Naruto's Memory
[ X ]
"What is this place…? Would you stop already!"
"No! Let go of me!"
"Ain't happening, kid. You're coming with me whether you want to or not."
"Ugh! Let go of me. Old Man! Help."
"The Old Man isn't coming to save you. Probably glad to be rid of you, if I'm being honest. Jinchuuriki are nothing but bad luck."
"Eat me, prick!"
"Language! Mah, I can only imagine what your mother would think. How much shame she would feel hearing you say such things!"
"…What… How… Do you know…"
"I do… Don't worry. You'll be seeing her soon… Ow! Fucker! You gotta set of teeth on you!"
"Ha! Didn't escape out of that!"
"Hm… Curious. Why didn't it… Get your ass up and run!"
"No, you aren't making… What are those things?! Ah, they're too fast! Ah!"
"I've noticed! Ugh! Stop squirming, brat! You want them to catch us?! What the… Again?!"
"You won't control me again!"
"So you'll degrade yourself by helping the brat to escape… Interesting."
[ X ]
The Next Morning, Naruto's Apartment
[ X ]
Did Ellen have to have the TV all night?
Did she really need to stay over? She only lived a few apartments away!
Kurenai was watching him anyway… He knew that much.
Naruto lay restlessly rolling in his bed, grumbling as he covered his head with a pillow. It was difficult for him to ignore the noise. He could hear it all night. The walls of these apartments were thin, and he had excellent hearing…
He had been the proper gentleman and allowed Ellen to crash on his sofa last night. She had been out like a light from her overexerting herself, and he frowned upon rummaging through her personal effects for her key. As much as it would be the gentlemanly thing to do by taking her home, one did not go through a lady's belongings without her permission.
And Ellen took offense to the last time Naruto had done that, so he knew better.
And even when she woke up during the night to turn on the TV, she only temporarily left to grab a few things from her apartment and came back and crashed on his sofa regardless! He knew why Ellen was doing it, but it was sort of agitating for Naruto…
It wasn't like he was going to recklessly rush out and try to find the mysterious masked man.
Naruto wasn't ready for that confrontation yet. He needed to be stronger…
"Huh?" Naruto frowned, hearing a high, shrill pitch emitting from the television.
It wasn't something he was accustomed to, but a noise he recognized. It was a broadcast alarm…
Did a new Companion Hollow spawn?
Leaping out of bed, tossing his pillow and blankets back on, making a note to make his bed in a moment, Naruto made his way out of his room and into his small apartment. Ellen casually lay on the sofa. She wore a familiar blue shark-hoodie one-piece pajama suit with a white underbelly.
He simply raised his brow at her attire, recognizing it from the popular shark Thiren streamer… Not that he watched her when she was at the height of her popularity… Very much.
Naruto absently wondered what happened to her. Hopefully, she was doing well… Although, there was this strange new catgirl mackerel that sounded an awful lot like her…
"What? It's comfortable." Ellen sulked, her eyes fluttered away from the television, and she glared at Naruto. Then, with a loud yawn, her gaze returned to the TV. The scene being recorded was a reporter and a Public Officer on a helicopter, hovering over a skyscraper. "Seems like a lot was going on this morning. Supposedly, there was a big operation launched to bring in the Red Fang Gang on Fourteenth Street. In the middle of that raid, a Hollow unexpectedly opened and swallowed the block."
"Fourteenth? Damn, guess we're taking the long way to school this morning." Naruto exhaled, hearing precisely where the Hollow opened.
"Pfft. I'm still tired. Feel like skipping today." Ellen sluggishly reached for her open box of candy, pulling out a lollipop and inserting it into the corner of her mouth.
"You're always tired." Naruto scowled, glowering at Ellen. "And I don't have the grades to skip class."
"Not my fault that you copied my work before my friends looked it over and helped me with it." Ellen snorted, ignoring Naruto's contempt, turning her focus back on the television as the scene shifted. "For the head of the Janus sector, the guy sounds like a wuss if he's letting the report push him around. Pfft, explains why the Red Fang Gang gets away all the time."
"Hm? Don't we have clients in the Janus sector? They might need help evacuating." Naruto mused after he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the broadcast.
"Rina texted earlier. She, Lycaon, and Corin have already headed out." Ellen nonchalantly motioned over to her phone lying on the couch beside her.
"And you didn't inform me or get ready? We've got work." Naruto scowled at Ellen's concerningly lax demeanor.
"No need. Rina stated you'd be busy today, and they'd be finishing up when you're done. She also asked me to keep you company. I agreed, for a small fee." Ellen responded in a dull tone.
"Outside of school, I ain't got nothing planned." Naruto's eyes slitted, failing to decipher what that meant.
He wasn't able to think further on that topic. His attention snapped to the television as Ellen bolted up in her chair, intent on the shift of scenery after a bright flash of light. "Oh? What is this? Did the Red Fang Gang reveal their location…Oh no."
"Why are they there?!" Naruto exclaimed, noticing three people he recognized on television. Horror was etched onto his face as guns from the helicopter rained a hailstorm of bullets down onto the group, along with the gang they were surrounded by. Naruto groaned and dragged his hand over his face. "Of course, the Hares are involved in this! Why am I not surprised? Nicole will do anything for a Denny!"
"They'd better get out of this. They still owe us for the last job we did for them. I don't work for free… Or coupons." Ellen scrunched her nose as her expression soured.
"Maybe you don't," Naruto muttered. While he mostly agreed with Ellen's sentiment…
If the job gave him a free bowl of ramen from Waterfall Soup, Naruto was more than game for a job. The fact that Nicole knew that and often used it to her advantage…
"I have higher standards." Ellen rolled her eyes before glaring at Naruto. "And the next time Nicole bribes you with a coupon, leave me out of it." Ellen huffed in annoyance at Naruto's sheepish expression.
Before Ellen could tell Naruto off, their attention shifted to a knock on his apartment door. "Eh? Who would be knocking at this time of day?"
Ellen simply nodded, rummaging in her purse to find her W-Engine before she shadowed Naruto's step as he cautiously approached his door. Given the events yesterday and knowing only a handful of people who would knock at his door were busy, it was prudent to be cautious.
As Naruto opened the door, Ellen wanted her scissor blade at the ready if it happened to be that masked freak…
"Huh? Officer Yuan? Granny Qingyi? What are you doing here?" Naruto blinked, genuinely surprised by the buxom police officer and her partner standing on the other side of the door.
"Cut that out, brat. We're here for you." Qingyi scowled at the title while Zhu Yuan smiled.
A nervous unease filled Naruto, and he reflexively ran his hand through his locks. "Uh, I haven't done anything… lately. …I promise, if there were any weird pranks, it honestly wasn't me this time. I've been too busy with school and work to have time for that."
"Hmph. With those doppelgangers you can make, you are always a suspect in any such manner." Qingyi sneered at Naruto.
Naruto could only awkwardly chuckle, unable to refute her claim. And given he had a history of causing mischief and chaos that he hadn't entirely grown out of… He still loved a good prank.
"That isn't the reason we're here today." Zhu Yuan defused the tension with a calm, collected tone. However, relaxing her stance with a hand on her hip, her lips quivered into a frown. "We received a particularly disturbing report from the Head Maid of Victoria Housekeeping that you had someone stalking you, wishing harm upon you. We're investigating this matter, as it's serious and alarming if it is true that this is a repeat offender… And it is not on any of our records."
"Oh…" Naruto's features fell flat. Recalling what Ellen recounted in Rina's text about Naruto being busy today suddenly made sense.
"Guess you're wanting me to go down to the station for a statement, huh? Give me a minute to get ready." Naruto muttered, sighing in resignation.
Naruto's day was going to be very busy in a way he didn't want it to be. He would rather join Nicole and the Hares on whatever insanity they were on than spend time at the police station.
At least that wouldn't be the biggest pain in his ass.
[ X ]
Police Station, Lumina Square
[ X ]
It had been quite a while since he had been to the police station, sitting across a table with Zhua Yuan and Qingyi on the other side. At least this time he wasn't in handcuffs. The last time, he had graffitied almost every billboard in Lumina Square and had escaped from Qingyi into a Hollow, with a little help from a mysterious Bangboo who found his antics amusing.
A Bangboo that was quite similar to the one a certain proxy had used…
"It's been a while, brat. I was hoping not to see you in here again," Qingyi scowled, arms crossed.
Naruto nervously chuckled but nodded in agreement. Granny Qingyi had many valid reasons to be annoyed with him over the years. That wasn't the first time he had outfoxed her, and Zhu Yuan came to his or Uncle Lycaon's apartment. She was often the one assigned to clean up his pranks.
However, after training with Kurenai over the past few years, his lessons with Uncle Lycaon finally took hold, and he began to hold himself to a higher esteem. It had been a few years since that graffiti incident.
"Well, the circumstances are different this time around." Zhu Yuan added as she took out a pen and notebook, preparing to take notes while looking over those she already had. "Let's go over some descriptions of this man. According to Rina, yesterday afternoon, this mysterious stranger wore a black cloak with red clouds and an orange spiral mask, with only the right eye visible. However, she was able to recognize him from an older description…"
"Yeah, the prick wore a pure black hooded cloak with a white mask and black tiger-like stripes when he kidnapped me when I was six before I gave him the slip." Naruto immediately recalled what the mysterious stranger wore the last time they met, remembering every last detail. "Onyx black hair with spiky locks in a similar manner to my hair. One visible crimson eye that had three tomoe surrounding his pupil. His right and left arms had different muscle tone, as if they belonged to completely different people. Can shift his tone from a deep, menacing growl to a childish chide to get under your skin."
At these details, a look of surprise washed over Zhu Yuan and Qingyi. They exchanged a perturbed look before Zhu Yuan broke the silence with the note that had caught them off guard. "Kidnapped? We were under the impression it was an assault and attempted kidnapping…"
"And why isn't any of this in our records?" Qingyi stated with a deep frown.
"I imagine because it didn't happen in New Eridu. I'm not very good with the law, as you obviously know, but even I know it's difficult to charge a crime when it happens in another jurisdiction. Especially when that jurisdiction is another world. With the mess of that Hollow suddenly spawning and dragging us in, I managed to escape his grasp shortly after with some help… From Ethereals attacking." Naruto gave an exasperated groan after stating the information matter-of-factly.
"Oh, I didn't realize you were one of the offworld refugees from the Hollow Zero incident… Though that explains your incomplete records." Qingyi furrowed her brow.
"That does make the matters… Quite unusual and difficult to proceed." Zhu Yuan sat pensively for a moment before speaking again. "However, the fact remains that a felonious crime was committed, regardless of where it happened, and the man is still stalking you. I believe there is enough to look into this matter when he is frequenting and threatening other citizens involved in your life."
"So any other information and details you have are crucial for the investigation."
[ X ]
Meanwhile, Outside
[ X ]
"Annoying, but expected. It won't change anything," the deep voice of Obito exhaled, sitting on the rooftop of HIA Club, looking down toward the police station not too far away.
His gaze followed the shark lass as she left the station, clearly on a mission for food while she waited. If she were his target, the girl wouldn't even know what would hit her. Luckily for her, she wasn't…
At least, not at this moment.
Obito turned his attention back to the station. He had figured they would pursue this course of action when he revealed himself. It didn't bother him, but having more people searching for him would cause problems. He had already been sneaking and avoiding the presence of people far more capable of locating him. One individual who stood above all these ants…
Speaking of which… Was that the sound of birds chirping in the city?
As the world warped around him and an electrified hand pierced through Obito's chest, his body leapt back and faded through his attacker quickly. "Ah, Kakashi. I'll commend your effort. Using your version of Kamui to try to counter mine was clever. Alas, the conserving chakra on the lesser version of your technique may have cost you."
"I wasn't going to strike you down with that combo unless I was lucky. Besides, before I kill you, I want to know why." Kakashi coldly stared into Obito's lone eye.
"Still the same old Kakashi, I see," Obito mocked with a wry, dry tone. His Sharingan twinkled with amusement as Kakashi's gaze narrowed. His demeanor, however, turned stone cold as he held his old teammate's gaze. "And the answer is simple. I do all I do for Rin."
For a brief moment, Kakashi jerked, and his eyes widened in alarm. But that brief moment was all Obito needed to phase out of existence and leave one more statement to break his friend. "Remember this well, old friend. I will not cease my actions until she is avenged and our world is cleansed of all filth."
"And you can believe that."
[ X ]
Back in the Station, Hours Later
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"Ugh…" Naruto muttered, staggering out of the station, weary from the long interview. His stomach growled, incensed from the lack of food, unsatisfied with the meager water and singular donut he had drunk and eaten throughout the morning.
It didn't help that Ellen was bitterly drinking a cup of coffee to stay awake on a bench just outside. How Naruto wished he enjoyed coffee… Or at least had Ellen's ability to choke food and drinks down he didn't necessarily like.
The fact that she could stomach anything Rina cooked was a testament to her iron stomach.
"Someone's hungry." Ellen, in a simple white blouse adorned with the same streamers logo and a knee-length black skirt, yawned. Rubbing her eyes as she drank the last of her coffee, Ellen tiredly glanced up at Naruto before exasperatedly motioning to the empty styrofoam containers. "That took longer than expected… I ate the breakfast I brought. Didn't want it to go to waste."
"Eh, can't blame ya. Still…" Naruto longingly glanced at the empty containers before shrugging. "You still hungry? I could really go for some Waterfall Soup right about now. I'll pay."
"… Fine." Ellen squinted, mean-mugging Naruto for a moment. But with a sigh, she stood up and shrugged. "I'm not going to say no to a free meal."
"You never do. I'm surprised your stomach hasn't revolted against you after all the food I've seen you eat." Naruto snickered.
"My taste isn't that bad," Ellen huffed, and turned her head away to smolder as they walked toward
"Says the person who thought of putting mustard on a pineapple chocolate bar for a snack." Naruto slyly reminded Ellen of the horrible treat she had once brought for snacks.
"…Will you ever let that go? It wasn't that bad." Ellen scowled as they crossed the street and approached Waterfall Soup.
"Yes, it was." Naruto continued to rib Ellen with a smile.
"Jerk…" Ellen mumbled, taking a seat on a stool as Junior Chop turned to greet them.
"Ah, Ellen and Naruto. My best customers! On another date I see!" Junior broadly smiled as the two took a seat at his restaurant.
"Mah, get that nonsense out of your head. We ain't out on a date." Naruto anxiously rubbed his neck.
"Sure you aren't." Junior slyly smirked, much to Naruto's chagrin. "The usual?"
"Please," Ellen blandly responded, leaning her elbows onto the counter so she could relax her head on her hands. Through half-lidded eyes, Ellen looked back over at Naruto as Junior began to prepare the meal swiftly. "So, they're gonna do anything besides searching for him?"
"I'm not sure yet. Zhu Yuan stated they would let me know if they had any plans and if they were going to keep an officer stationed around me." Naruto let out a loud sigh.
However, he was seething internally. It wasn't anything Public Security did or would do that bothered him. They were simply doing their duty.
What bothered him was how helpless Naruto still felt. Twelve years and, despite all the work he put in, nothing had changed. That masked man still had control, and he couldn't escape… Not without help.
Naruto gnashed his teeth, oblivious of the slight concern Ellen displayed with a subtle glance. He would do whatever it took… No matter the cost. He would train till his body quit every night if that's what it took. He only hoped Kakashi was as good as the Old Man advertised.
He damn well better be.
[ X ]
Meanwhile, at Lumina Square
[ X ]
"Intriguing," the ratty tail of a Thiren swayed back and forth, carefully observing her new ward as he ate lunch with a peer, blending seamlessly with a line to sign for a book in the nearby courtyard.
A potential girlfriend? It was a possibility, given that she was waiting on her ward and that she went along with his plan. It seemed like she wanted to be there, even if she was acting visibly bored.
Likely not a threat, but she would remain cautious of the girl.
A Thiren woman with peculiar black hair that slowly gradually shifted to red as it was tied into her ponytail stood observing Naruto and Ellen curiously. She gave a short smirk as her aqua-green eyes sparkled.
This would be quite an interesting case. The chance to observe a stranded refugee and a possible assailant who both derived from another world, lost here due to the Hollow Zero incident, was too much to pass up. And if all went according to plan, they would never know she was there.
Jane Doe was the best at what she did. They would never suspect a thing.