Chapter 18

Naruto sat comfortably near the fire, enjoying the simple satisfaction of a well-earned meal. The fresh scent of roasted fish mingled with the crisp morning air, making the moment feel oddly serene despite the never-ending challenges that lay ahead. He took another bite, savoring the taste, when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Golden Lantern, how's it going?"

Naruto looked up to see Beast Boy swooping in, his eagle form gliding effortlessly through the air before landing gracefully on a nearby tree branch. His green feathers shimmered slightly under the sunlight before he shifted back into his usual form, leaping down onto the ground in front of Naruto.

Naruto hadn't sensed him coming, but that was hardly surprising. He wasn't actively scanning for threats, and Beast Boy hadn't been trying to attack him. His detection techniques weren't always on—if they were, he'd be overwhelmed by constant data flooding his senses. It was something he had to operate manually, not a passive ability that was always active. There was a fine line between awareness and information overload, and Naruto knew it was best to maintain a balance.

"Hungry at the moment, but otherwise I'm doing fine," Naruto answered as he took another bite of his fish. "How about you? Did you get over your loss against Impulse?"

Beast Boy groaned and flopped onto the ground dramatically. "I officially hate speedsters now."

Naruto chuckled as he watched his friend sulk. Beast Boy reached over and grabbed the extra fish Naruto had prepared, taking a big bite.

"So why are you sitting out here instead of eating breakfast inside?" Beast Boy asked, talking between bites.

Naruto shrugged. "I don't like the feeling of being spoon-fed. I've always earned my keep, and I want to keep it that way. Living in luxury isn't something I'm comfortable with. I come from a simple background, and staying connected to that is important. If I get too used to comfort, I might start losing touch with the people I want to help."

Beast Boy nodded thoughtfully as he chewed, then smirked. "Hmm, this fish is good. Your loss, bro. You gotta enjoy what life throws at you, or you'll only remember the difficulties in truly tough times."

Naruto smiled slightly. "I never said I wouldn't enjoy things, but I'd rather enjoy them through my own efforts."

Beast Boy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I can get behind that, but dude, you're pointlessly making things harder for yourself."

Naruto looked at him, his gaze steady. "Does someone who has relied on others for food, clothing, and shelter truly understand what it feels like to struggle for those things?"

Beast Boy hesitated, then sighed. "No, I guess not."

"There you go," Naruto said simply.

Beast Boy scratched the back of his head. "I never really thought about it like that." His expression shifted as curiosity sparked in his eyes. "So, what are you actually planning to do? Your words make it sound like you've got something more in mind than just being a part-time hero."

Naruto nodded, setting down his finished fish and brushing his hands off. "I'm going to integrate into the normal world and work to help different communities connect with each other. People misunderstand each other too easily. If I can bridge that gap, even a little, it might make a difference."

Beast Boy's eyes widened slightly. "Wow, are you serious, dude?"

"Very serious," Naruto replied firmly.

Beast Boy let out a low whistle. "That's gonna take you a lifetime."

Naruto smirked. "I'll make sure it doesn't take that long."

Beast Boy grinned and punched Naruto's shoulder playfully. "Well, if you need help, I won't mind lending a hand."

Naruto chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."

Beast Boy ruffled his green hair and sighed dramatically, leaning back on his elbows. "Man, you're seriously trying to be a real-life RPG protagonist, huh? Traveling from village to village, solving problems, spreading the good word like some kind of ninja messiah." He grinned. "Do you at least get side quests and loot along the way?"

Naruto smirked, finishing off his fish in a few quick bites before tossing the bones aside. "Depends. Does getting chased by corrupt officials, fighting bandits, and dealing with people too stubborn for their own good count?"

Beast Boy whistled. "Oof. Sounds like you're playing on nightmare difficulty. Should've gone for the 'Chill and Rich' DLC instead." He gestured toward the base behind them. "You're literally staying in a place with top-tier food, hot showers, and beds softer than a cloud. And yet, here you are, squatting in the dirt like some hardcore survivalist."

Naruto shrugged. "I told you, I don't want to lose touch with where I came from. I grew up struggling, and I don't ever want to forget what that feels like. If I start living in luxury, I might start seeing the world differently—like I'm above the people I'm trying to help."

Beast Boy munched on his fish, tilting his head. "I get that, but dude, balance is a thing. Ever hear of it? You can sleep in a nice bed and still remember what it's like to be broke. Trust me, I do it all the time!" He puffed out his chest proudly. "One minute I'm chilling in the Tower, eating pizza and watching movies, the next I'm a raccoon digging through dumpsters for snacks. Gotta stay versatile."

Naruto gave him a deadpan look. "That's… not the same thing."

Beast Boy grinned. "I mean, maybe not, but my point is, making life harder for yourself on purpose? Not sure that's the smartest move. You can't help people if you're exhausted from sleeping in a ditch every night."

Naruto sighed, poking at the fire with a stick. "I'm not going to sleep in ditches, idiot. I just want to stay grounded, that's all."

Beast Boy nodded sagely. "Fair, fair. But, uh, can I make one small request?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Beast Boy smirked. "If you're gonna do this whole 'wandering hero' thing, please, please promise me you'll get a cool cloak. Like, with a hood. Maybe some flames at the bottom. Oh! And a dramatic name! 'The Golden Lantern' is good, but I feel like you need something… extra." He threw up his hands, striking a dramatic pose. "'The Phantom of the Hidden Roads!' Or maybe 'The Ramen Ronin!'"

Naruto stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head. "Not happening."

Beast Boy gasped, clutching his chest. "Dude, come on! At least give it some thought! Marketing is important if you're gonna be a legend!"

Naruto rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "I'll think about it. Maybe."

"So, how can I help you?"

Beast Boy sat in silence for a moment, his usual carefree expression fading as his gaze dropped to the ground. His fingers idly traced patterns in the dirt, a nervous energy in his movements. The weight of his thoughts pressed down on him, making it difficult to speak. But he had to.

"I heard from the girls about what you said about Raven," he finally admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "And, uh… it kind of made me feel like an asshole."

Naruto, who had just finished the last bite of his fish, turned his full attention to the changeling. He didn't say anything, just let Beast Boy speak at his own pace.

Beast Boy exhaled, his shoulders slumping. "I thought about it, and yeah… I agree with you. I messed up. I ignored what she was going through, even when I knew how hard things were for her. She fought against her own darkness for my sake because she really loved me. And at one point, I thought I accepted everything about her, you know? But somewhere along the way… my heart just gave in to someone else."

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "Being with Raven wasn't easy. It was a dangerous game, filled with horrors. I know that. But even if things were tough, I should've handled it better. Instead, I just… jumped ship. I brought someone new into my life without giving Raven the chance to adjust, without thinking about how it would affect her."

He paused, shaking his head. "The thing is, she's not as cold as people think. The others don't realize it, but I do—she doesn't like being alone. Not really. It's just how she copes, how she protects people from her powers. She liked having us around, even if she didn't always show it. And I took that away from her."

A guilty chuckle escaped his lips. "Man, I really screwed up, huh?"

Naruto watched him carefully, sensing the genuine regret in his words. This wasn't just guilt—it was realization. A hard, bitter truth Beast Boy had been forced to swallow.

"You can sense people, right?" Beast Boy asked, looking up again.

"Yes," Naruto confirmed simply.

Beast Boy nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out a dark glove with intricate patterns laced with faint purple energy. He handed it over. "This was a gift from Raven. It has her magic in it. I… I want to find her myself, without the League. If they get involved, things will only get worse."

Naruto took the glove, his fingers brushing over the fabric as he focused his senses. He closed his eyes, reaching out for any matching energy signatures in the immediate area. After a moment, he opened them and shook his head.

"She's nowhere close," he said, his expression serious. "We might have to search the entire planet."

Beast Boy felt his stomach drop. He had expected as much, but hearing it confirmed made it feel even more overwhelming.

"I don't mind coming along for the search," Naruto added, sensing the doubt creeping into Beast Boy's mind.

The green-skinned hero blinked, his eyes widening. "Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah."

For a second, Beast Boy just stared at him. He had prepared for resistance, for arguments, maybe even a flat-out refusal. Most people would be terrified to track down someone as powerful—and unstable—as Raven.

But Naruto hadn't even hesitated.

A grin split Beast Boy's face, and he suddenly lunged forward, shaking Naruto's hand so violently that the blonde had to brace himself. "THANK YOU, BRO! I totally owe you one!"

Naruto huffed, but there was amusement in his expression. "Yeah, yeah, just don't break my hand."

Beast Boy let go, rubbing the back of his neck. "For real, man, this means a lot. I wasn't sure how to even go about this. And the League…" He trailed off, his expression darkening. "They want to get rid of her. After she went berserk and wiped the floor with them, some of them think she's too dangerous to keep around."

Naruto's eyes hardened at that. "Cowards."

"Right?" Beast Boy let out a humorless laugh. "Like, I get it, she's crazy strong, but she's not evil. She's been fighting against her darker side her whole life, and instead of helping her, they want to throw her away. It's messed up."

Naruto stood up, finishing off the last of his meal and brushing off his hands. Without missing a beat, he started clearing the campsite, kicking dirt over the fire. "Then we better find her before they do."

Beast Boy jumped to his feet, his energy returning now that there was a plan. "I'm ready! So how are we doing this? Some kind of super ninja tracking magic?"

"We fly," Naruto said, activating his ring as golden energy flared around him. "I'll scan from above. My range can cover an entire city, so we'll go from limit to limit."

Beast Boy nodded, shifting into a green hawk. "Sweet. Air Beast Boy, ready for takeoff!"

Naruto gave him a look. "You're really sticking with that name?"

"Hey, it's a work in progress!" Beast Boy cawed, flapping his wings. "Unlike you, Mr. 'Too Cool for a Codename.'"

With a small smirk, Naruto shot into the sky, Beast Boy following close behind. The search for Raven had begun.