wretches & Kings part 2

Wake up, you fucking fool."

Naruto's eyes shot open, finding himself inside his seal, Kurama glaring down at him, "Kurama?"

Said Biju growled, "Has it come back to you brat?"

The blonde nodded, looking down at his torso, feeling around to see that he wasn't wounded while in the mindscape, "Yeah…yeah it's come back. Fuck, what the hell what the bullet made of?"

"You almost got yourself killed, imbecile. You almost got me killed." Kurama growled out as he admonished the blonde,"You could've used your Magnet Release to stop the bullet, or the gun. You could've pushed the prince and yourself out of the way. You could've intercepted the gunman. But no. Instead, you throw yourself in front of the bullet, expecting to survive. Gambling on your superiority over these monkeys. When will you stop trying to be the self-sacrificial hero? Because your stupidity isn't just risking your life, but my life as well!"

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head, "I'm sorry Kurama. You have to admit though that a bullet should never be able to penetrate my Nature Chakra enhanced skin. It never has before anyway. This isn't normal circumstance here."

"I heard Prince T'Challa say that the men we fought used vibranium tipped artillery. But even then, it didn't penetrate you skin completely. Your enhancement acted as a good enough buffer to slow the bullet down halfway. It's currently lodged in one of your lungs. Eventually, your healing factor will push the bullet out and you'll heal like normal, but at the rate you were bleeding I had to give it a little more of a kick. In short, you won't die. Especially since the prince is taking you and the woman to his home." Kurama stated.

Looking around Naruto muttered, "Well uh, thanks for the assist Kurama. Why am I here though?"

"I brought you here, obviously. I didn't want to have to wait for you to wake up before I could jump your stupid ass. Fucking idiot."

"Naruto…"

Naruto jumped at the voice that echoed through room, looking around in search of the source as he said, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what? Did all that blood loss make you stupider than normal or something? There's no one here except you and me. Fucking idiot." Kurama grumbled.

"No seriously, I heard a voice." Naruto explained himself, still looking around.

"Naruto…"

"There!" Naruto shouted, "Don't tell me you didn't hear that!"

"Naruto…" Kurama started, giving his container a look, "I'm not hearing anything. You sure you're fi-"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine Kurama." The blonde reassured, beginning to walk towards the exiting corridor.

"Where are you going?" The Biju muttered tiredly, resting his head on his paws.

"I'm gonna find the voice, I guess."

"Why, exactly?"

"If I'm gonna be in here, I'm not just gonna sit around here and watch you nap."

The Biju grumbled, "Hmph, your loss." Kurama said with a shrug, closing his eyes as he shifted into a comfortable position.

Naruto stopped, looking back at his partner, "Kurama…I really am sorry."

Kurama smirked, his eyes still closed, "All is forgiven, idiot. Though, maybe next time don't follow your instinct. Let your brain do some of the work."

The blonde nodded, "I'll keep that in mind, partner." Giving a parting wave, he exited the cage, walking down the hallway.

Having never bothered to walk these halls since he'd first entered the seal, he'd yet to notice that they had changed along with the rest of the interior of the seal. Rather than the dank sewer decal from before, it was a smooth blood red, with golden highlights tracing the edges all throughout. Sadly, it was still filled ankle deep with water, though the blonde had grown used to it after so long.

He didn't know how long he'd been walking, all he knew was that he'd never bothered walking in this direction before. Hell, he'd never considered exploring this place until the Ancient One had recommended it. Why would he? As far as he knew, Kurama was the only interesting thing down here, and he always just appeared in front of his cage nowadays. Finally, after what felt like half an hour of walking, he'd reached the end of the hallway.

There, sitting at the end of the hallway, was an average looking wooden door. Which, if anything, made it stick out very strangely in the all red hallway filled with ankle deep water.

Reaching for the doorknob, Naruto slowly gave it a turn before pushing the door open, only to sigh when he saw that only darkness greeted him on the other side.

Swinging the door open all the way, he stepped into the vast darkness, immediately noticing the shift in temperature as his breath began to fog. As he stepped fully passed the doorway, he jumped as the door suddenly slammed shut. Turning around, his shoulder's slumped when he saw that the door had disappeared.

"Great." He muttered, scratching his scalp, "That wasn't freaky or strange at all. No, totally normal. Hey, let's go exploring, let's find the voice. Idiot, idiot, idiot."

Having expected to find himself in total darkness, he was surprised to see a flickering orange light on the horizon. Deciding that that was where he needed to go, he began his trek towards the light.

As he walked, he noticed that he wasn't walking through a pool of water anymore, the ground strangely smooth like marble. Growing closer and closer to the light, he realized that it was a campfire, an orangish haze looming over the small blaze.

Finally reaching the campfire, his eyes roamed over to the form crouching over it, their form hidden by ebony colored cloak. Their hooded head turning to him, he was shocked to see the purple colored face of the Shinigami, his red horns poking out from beneath the hood.

"Shinigami?" Naruto asked, "Or, are you Death? It's hard to tell." He observed.

The Shinigami smiled, his sharped teeth gleaming in the darkness, "Do you find my current form confusing, beloved? I thought you'd prefer a more familiar face." Tilting his head inquisitively, he asked, "Perhaps you'd like an even more familiar appearance?"

Naruto's face grew blank as the Shinigami's face began to morph, his white hair shortening and taking on a pink color, his face shrinking and becoming effeminate. And, as a final touch, her eyes shifted to a sharp emerald color.

The blonde's eyes narrowed, "Change. Now."

The woman before him smiled, "Do you not like this form? From your memories, I thought you were fond of this woman? Perhaps this would be better?"

Her eyes changing from green to a pupiless faint lavender, her hair quickly followed suit, growing longer and shifting to a dark blue.

"Stop." Naruto demanded, "Just…stop." His voice cracking.

The woman shrugged before her hair changed to a dark blonde, shortening to just above her shoulders. Her face began to change as well, now a bit leaner, while her lips became a bit more full and plump. Darting her now hazel eyes to the still upset blonde, she asked, "There, better?"

Naruto walked closer before taking a seat next to the woman, "Hello, Death."

Death smiled softly, "Such a morbid name, don't you think? I think I'd prefer you to call me something a bit more familiar."

Having finally calmed himself, Naruto shrugged, "Well, what do you want me to call you?"

"How about Freyja?" She asked, "I think that's a bit more fitting, don't you?"

"How's that?"

"Freyja, a name given to the lady of love, beauty, and death." Freyja recited, "Appropriate, don't you think?"

"If you think so." Naruto said with a shrug, "What's going on, Freyja? What is this place"

The embodiment of death closed her eyes, savoring the blonde using her new name, "This is my little corner in your seal. And I guided you here, beloved."

"Why do you call me that?" The blonde demanded.

Freyja didn't answer at first, simply looking into the small campfire, the flames reflecting off her eyes with a sharp gleam. Smiling softly, she said, "I have existed since life was given breath by my brother, Eternity. Because of my existence, I am connected to everyone. I watch over the universe, making sure that everyone follows their destined path towards my embrace. And in that moment, I am finally able to be with them, if for only a moment. And that has been my existence. My purpose. I had excepted eons ago that this was my stake in it all, that I would only be allowed those fleeting moments. And, I've made sure to cherish those times. All of them. But then you came along. And for the first time in all my everlasting life, I've been with someone. I was connected to you. You weren't a 'god' claiming my name to boost your status. You were just an insignificant speck in the universe. But it's because of our connection, this seal, that I've been able to watch you."

Suddenly, the fire grew brighter, causing Naruto to look into the flames, only to be shocked to see him, as a small child, sitting alone at some random playground as he watched a group of children play, their parents standing in the background, giving him looks of warning. Their message was simple. Stay away. The flames flickered, the image disappearing like it had never existed.

"I watched your life, all of it. The good..." Freyja continued, this time the flames flickering to an image of Naruto sitting at a campfire, the Third Hokage next to him, the two of them laughing and enjoying the other's company, "And the bad." The fire glimmered again, changing to a vision of the small blonde sitting alone at a kitchen table, the boy blowing out the candle on a store-bought piece of birthday cake, a deep frown marring his face as the fire was whipped away, softly singing a birthday song to himself, "I've seen you triumphs." She went on, the flame's image morphing to a still of a twelve-year-old Naruto crawling towards an equally battered Gaara, a look of pure determination on his face, "And your failures." The next was a vision of heavily bandaged Naruto looking down in shame as he apologized to Sakura for breaking his promise to her, "I've seen your highs." The fire changed again, the image being Naruto as he was celebrated as Konoha's hero, the blonde being thrown in the air by a crowd of cheering villagers, "And your lows."

Finally, a montage of images paused through the flames. Mizuki's betrayal. The death of the Third Hokage. His defeat at Sasuke's hands. His fight with Orochimaru. Jiraiya's death. Konoha's destruction. Hinata being cut down by Pain. Sasuke's fall into insanity. Neji's sacrifice. His eviction to Earth. The death of Charles. Natasha's betrayal. All of these flashed by before landing on an image of Naruto carving his fallen comrades' names into the Memorial Stone.

"You are the living embodiment of pain and hardship. And yet, you are unbroken. You hold yourself together with pure will. You persevere, pushing on in life to find the next adventure. You make new bonds. New friends. New family. Here, in this seal, I have been able to sit here front row and center to the greatest show of human triumph that has ever been and likely will ever be. How can't I fall in love with someone like that?" Freyja asked, looking Naruto in the eye as finished, "I call you my beloved because that is what you are. Simple as that."

"Wow." Naruto blurted out, "I-I um…"

"If I've flustered you, I apologize. It's just that this is a novel experience for me. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've talked to someone that wasn't one of my siblings." Freyja admitted.

"So…you know everything about me huh?" Naruto asked, trying to change the topic.

"Oh yes. I know everything that's ever happened to you. Any thought that's fluttered through your mind. Even that little plan of yours." Lady Death stated, a knowing look on her face.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Plan?"

Freyja's smile grew a little bigger, "Don't bother playing stupid with me, beloved. What did I tell you the first time we met? You can't hide such things from me? You might be able to hind it from Kurama, but I'm not so easy to deceive."

The blonde shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about. And not that I would, but I can't hide anything from Kurama."

The embodiment of death nodded, "Alright then beloved, if you want to continue to play your game I understand. But just know that you're not the only one seeking to break the laws my siblings and myself put in place."

The flame flickered again, shifting to a man Naruto immediately recognized, "Thanos?" He asked.

Freyja nodded, "The two of you are practically one in the same. Two sides of the same coin. Both faced incredible hardships due to the makings of their birth. Both are the last of their kind. Both hold the will to break or build galaxies. Both wish to subvert Eterniy and Death in one fell swoop. The only thing that separates you is that when you came face to face with your failures one of you moved forward to find a way to keep it from never happening again, the other moved forward to keep it from never happening at all."

Naruto looked into the fire for a long time, staring into the face of the man people called the most powerful being in the universe. Getting up, he willed a door to appear next to him. Not bothering to look at the woman of death as he opened the door, he said, "If what you're saying is true, then the difference between him and me is that I'd never follow through with a plan like that."

Freyja smiled again, watching her beloved step into the open doorway, "Then that leaves the question: who has the greater will? The one that can carry out something like that, or the one that can but chooses not to?"

Naruto didn't bother answering, stepping into the light, heading towards consciousness.

-x-

His eyes creaking open, he grunted as the flash of natural dazed his pupils, forcing him to squint as he tried to get up. Feeling a hand try and press him back to a lying position, he cleared out the specks of light from his eyes to see a man he didn't recognize standing over him. The man of African descent was bald headed, a thick black goatee wrapped around his jaw and mouth. He didn't look like a doctor, his casual looking purple tribal shirt not fitting the bill.

His crinkled face scrunched up in concern, he said, "I would recommend you lie still. It's a miracle you're awake at all."

"It's no miracle." Naruto mumbled, lying back down as he asked, "How long was I out?"

The man backed off from Naruto as he said, "Not long, you only slept through the night. It's daybreak now."

"Where am I?"

"All will be told when I am allowed to tell you. Until then, rest." The man ordered.

Naruto began to get up again, pushing passed the pain and the man's helping hand, "Yeah, can't do that. Got too many questions. Like where I am, or where my friend is." His bare feet touching the could stone floor as he swooped over to the side of the bed, he asked, "My name's-"

"I know who you are." The man interrupted, "You are the colonizer that's been running rampant the last few days." Bowing, he said, "My name is Zuri, Naruto Uzumaki. Now, please lay back down. I'd prefer it that a fight not break out here. We are on sacred ground after all."

Sacred ground?" Naruto asked.

Zuri nodded, "King T'Chaka thought it best to keep you out of the palace while you recovered. I volunteered to watch over you in one of the shrines within the city while we wait. As for your friend, she is being kept outside the palace in a separate area. She is safe, you have my word."

Naruto felt out Zuri's emotions, detecting no lies coming from the man, "Well, I'm fine. Tell whoever you need to tell that I want to talk to your king."

"That will prove difficult I'm afraid." Zuri said, a grave look on his face.

The blonde tilted his head in confusion, "Why?"

"The princess was taken and being held for ransom by the gang of militants you and the prince had fought. The king and prince are currently holding a council meeting to decide what to do. While that is going on, no one can enter. Not even myself." The head shaman explained.

"What's to discuss? Aren't they going to save her?" Naruto asked.

Zuri sighed, "It's a bit more complicated than that." Patting him on the shoulder, he said, "Come, let's get something to eat."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you supposed to keep me here?"

Zuri smiled, "They said to keep watch over you while you healed. You've healed, I'm hungry. Let's eat."

Naruto smiled back, "I think I'm beginning to like you, old man."

If Zuri was offended by the name, he didn't show it, instead leading the blonde-haired man out of the room, "Come, I know a place with great kachumbari not far from here."

-x-

Naruto sighed in satisfaction as he finished his meal, wiping his mouth of any possible access food with his napkin, "Damn, that was pretty good." The blonde was now wearing a white long sleeve shirt with blue tribal designs etched in and a pair of black pants and sandals.

Smiling from across Naruto, Zuri said, "It's one of my favorite dishes. I've been coming here since I was a boy."

Looking around, the blonde smiled as he took in the scenery. They were eating at a small little shop, their eating area out in the open of the downtown area, allowing you to be a part of the moving people. The area was busy, everyone going from one place to the other, happily going about their day seemingly without a care in the world. Every person that he could pick out of a crowd was distinct in their way of dress. From large disk like lip rings that sat in the mouths, to flowing tribal dresses, to colorful vibranium woven articles of clothing that were in league of their own in design.

Chuckling he said, "This place reminds me of home."

Zuri looked at Naruto in interest, "Where are you from?"

"Not from here." Naruto offered.

"I know you're not from Waka-"

"No, not from here as in Earth." The blonde clarified.

The shaman studied Naruto for a moment before asking, "Why are you telling me this? Surely you know I'll tell my king?"

Naruto shrugged, "I figure it'll get out eventually, why not just cut to the chase?"

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." Zuri offered, "I've seen the videos of you fighting, and I can attest to it being unhuman."

He shrugged again, "I never wanted to fight anyone here, if it makes you feel better."

Zuri looked him up and down once again as he asked, "Why does Birnin Zana remind you of your home?"

"I guess it's the people." Naruto guessed, "The feel of it all. This place is extraordinary compared to anywhere else on Earth. Nowhere else on Earth, or even off of Earth, could remind me of the feel of Konoha. Nowhere but here." He chuckled, "That and we were considered a secret village, with a group of super soldiers and elite fighters protecting its borders. Though, we weren't anywhere near as secretive as you are. Most if not every major village knew where we were. But they knew better than to try and find us with the First Hokage's forest protecting us."

"The First Hokage's forest?" Zuri asked.

Naruto nodded, "It was the forest that surrounded our village that was created by our first Hokage. It was thick, and we had a way of knowing when someone entered or left the forest at any time. Attacking us head on was never an option for most villages because of that, it allowed us to dictate any fight that came our way."

"Your village sounds very formidable." Zuri said, taking in the many comparisons his village had with Birnin Zana.

"It was."

The two of them sat at their table, enjoying the comfortable silence that washed over them before Zuri decided to cut in, "Well, I suppose we should head back now."

As Zuri got up from his seat, Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah uh, that'll prove difficult I'm afraid."

"Why?" Zuri asked, his face wrinkled with confusion.

"I'm a clone." The Shadow Clone smiled apologetically, "The boss swapped out with me after we left the shrine."

Zuri sighed with exasperation, "I told you that you can't get in. The king is in the council chambers. Tensions are already high; do you really think it's a good idea to push their buttons?"

"Oh, you mean the whole princess thing? Yeah, boss has a plan for that." The clone reassured. Giving a two-fingered salute, he said, "It was good meeting you Zuri, we should do this again some time!" With that, the clone popped in a puff of smoke.

"What an aggravating man." Zuri muttered, getting up before beginning his trek towards the Golden Palace.

-x-

King T'Chaka rubbed his brow as he listened to ransom note be read aloud again by his son, Prince T'Challa reading it himself for the first time since recovering from his injuries, "Dear King, by now you have realized that both your son and daughter are in my custody. And, as I'm sure you've realized, one of your own has betrayed you, giving us weapons that can stand against you and a means to enter your cities undetected. But do not confuse this for a thirst for war. That is not what I want. What I want is your technology. Because I have your son, we can reverse engineer your Black Panther armor. Because we have your daughter, we can create our own weapons using her intelligence, and reveal whatever they know to the public. But it doesn't have to be this way. Reveal yourselves to the world, agree to share your knowledge, and I will free them as a sign of thanks. You have by nightfall."

After T'Challa finished the note, the head of the Border Tribe said, "That was sent to us after the attack on N'Jadaka Village. Luckily, you have returned, and our War Dogs retrieved the Black Panther armor, but the princess is still in their hands." The Border Tribe leader was square jawed, a blue robe wrapped around his body, keeping his arms and torso hidden, "If they manage to get her to help them, these dogs will become even more of a danger to Wakanda."

T'Challa narrowed his eyes at the man, "Shuri would never help those men."

"Not willingly, no." The River Tribe elder spoke. The slim man wearing a turquoise themed suit, a massive disk filling in his lower lip, "But there is no telling what they will do to her when we refuse their demands."

"When?" The prince questioned, "She is your princess! There is no other option but to save her."

The Merchant Tribe elder scoffed, the wrinkled woman dressed in an elegant black and gold gown and head piece, "We are well aware of who she is. However, these are strenuous circumstances. We can't just attack these people! It will lead to open warfare, something that hasn't been done outside of Wakandan borders since its founding!"

"So, what would you suggest?" Asked the leader of the Mining Tribe, a middle-aged woman with red and brown dressings, "If we refuse, they will take our princess away! That is unacceptable! Not only would this be a slap in the face to our country's pride, but she is a child. Something must be done!"

"Are you seriously suggesting a rescue operation?" The River Tribe elder asked, "Have you forgotten that our Black Panther is useless against these thugs? They've incapacitated him before, who's to say it can't be done again? And even if we were to agree to let him go, they are an army of thousands with weapons that can penetrate our defenses. To send a small party of people into that hyena's nest would be sending them to their deaths. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to risk my people for such a suicide mission."

"Then don't send a party." T'Challa offered, "Just send me."

"No."

The prince turned to his father, surprise on his face, "What? Baba, I can do it! You know I can-"

"I have already lost one child today. I won't lose another." T'Chaka interrupted.

T'Challa looked at his father, flabbergasted, "Baba, you haven't lost anyone. We will get her back."

And for the first time in his life, T'Challa could see his father's age. T'Chaka looked his son in the eye as he said, "Read the bottom of the note."

Confused, T'Challa looked down to the bottom right corner of the note, a name cleanly scrawled in, "Who is Achebe?"

T'Chaka released a slow breath out, "A mistake from the past."

The Border Tribe elder continued, "Achebe is an outsider your father brought back here to be healed, much like the colonizer you brought with you last night."

T'Challa looked to his father, "Why did you bring this man into Wakanda?"

T'Chaka shifted in his seat, clasping his hands together, resting his chin upon them, "Several decades ago, I had been running a mission in Ghudaza as the Black Panther. Myself and a squad of Dora Milaje were assisting a War Dog in extracting a target within a small bandit group that had begun overtaking several cities. The mission had gone horribly wrong, the target was killed in a car bombing that set of a conflict between the bandits and the local military. It was a blood bath. We tried to assist the town in getting rid of the bandits, and because of that the fighting only lasted two days. Performing a sweep of the area, we came across a priest that had been stabbed a few dozen times. It was a miracle that he was still alive. Had I done nothing, he would have been the only civilian death. My guilt getting the better of me, I took him to Wakanda and had healed him of his wounds."

"But in doing so he brought a monster to our doorsteps." The Mining Tribe added, "When he awoke, we immediately knew something was wrong. We'd catch him…talking to himself, referring to himself by a second name."

"Daki." The Merchant Tribe elder recalled, getting nods from the other tribe leaders.

"His awareness that we existed only made it worse." T'Chaka continued, "He couldn't understand why we had kept ourselves hidden for so long. He began begging me to open Wakanda to the world. At first, I thought it was compassion that drove his want for openness. But I would later learn that perhaps it was something much darker."

The Border Tribe leader took over for his king, "After we refused his request, he asked to leave Wakanda. We agreed, sending him to America with a means to get an education and start a new life, with the understanding that he would tell no one of what he'd experienced here. We kept him under watch for nearly a decade, the man getting a doctorate in communication. Then, he disappeared off the face of the Earth for several years, only to pop back up again in Ghudaza. Our War Dogs would later report the deaths of several men that had once been in that bandit group, all of them brutally stabbed to death. After that, he went quiet. This is the first time we'd heard of him in almost fifteen years."

"He is not a stable man. But, he is a smart one." T'Chaka said, "He knows he needs Shuri alive if we refuse his demands, he can use her to show the world, at least partially, what we are, while keeping her to themselves to abuse her intelligence. Because of this, I know she is safe, for now. If we attack them to rescue her, we risk exposure. If we try and call his bluff, we're partially exposed. If we agree, we're exposed completely. This is a no-win scenario."

The group's conversation was kept from continuing by the sound of someone knocking on the large double doors that took up the front portion of the chambers. Figuring it to be the Dora Milaje outside, King T'Chaka bellowed, "Enter!"

The doors creaked open, revealing a smiling Naruto as he gave a small wave in their direction, "Yo!"

"What are you doing here boy?!" Called out the Border Tribe leader.

The River Tribe elder scoffed, throwing his arm up in Naruto's direction, "Dora Milaje, take this colonizer away!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, if you're talking about the ladies outside, I put them under a small Genjutsu. Don't worry, it's nothing too serious or anything since I kinda suck at anything above the beginner's moves."

"Genjutsu?" The Merchant Tribe wondered, "What is this nonsense?!"

"An illusion." Naruto clarified, "All I did was make them think they're dreaming, that's all I swear."

"You dare?" Started the Mining Tribe elder, "Do you have any idea where you are?"

"Yeah, I think I heard Zuri call it the Golden Palace or something." Naruto offered.

"And where is Zuri?" Demanded the Merchant Tribe leader, "He was supposed to inform us when you woke up, not let you wonder around on your own."

"Oh, well I kinda ditched him with a clone of mine. He's on his way though, shouldn't take more than twenty minutes." Naruto guessed. Eying the king, he stepped forward, ignoring the bracing movements of almost every elder in the room, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"We know who you are, boy. Why are you here?" Asked the Border Tribe elder.

Taking another step forward, Naruto said, "Well, I couldn't help but overhear your little meeting, and I think I might have an answer to your problem."

The River Tribe elder tried to play dumb, "What are you talking about boy?"

Naruto kept his eyes on the king, "I've been listening in for a while now. You're caught in an impossible situation and you can't seem to find the right answer. Do your sacrifice your daughter, or the peace you've established for so long?"

"And I assume you have a 'solution?'" King T'Chaka asked.

"Me."

T'Chaka raised a brow, "You?"

"Yeah, me. I'm the solution."

The room was silent for a few seconds before the four council members began to laugh in Naruto's face. Moving passed his laughter first, the River Tribe elder gasped out, "How exactly are you the solution to our problem?"

Naruto raised his hands to form a cross shaped hand sign. In a puff of smoke, another Naruto appeared. The councilors jumped in shock while T'Challa flew up from his seat ready to fight off the two blondes if necessary. However, the clone only gave a quick salute before disappearing in another puff of smoke.

"What kind of magic is this?" Whispered the Merchant Tribe elder.

T'Challa and T'Chaka, having seen the ability through their surveillance of the man, were less shocked at the sight. Coughing in his hand, the king said, "While that is…impressive, how exactly is that the answer?"

Naruto took another step forward, now just several feet from the king, "Imagine that, but times a thousand."

"That would mean you can mass produce an army." Scoffing the River Tribe leader said, "Impossible."

"Impossible isn't in my vocabulary." Naruto insisted with narrowed eyes, "Trust me, I can help you save your daughter."

"And why should we trust you?"

Naruto looked to T'Challa, the princes calm demeaner in play as he looked over the blonde. Sighing, Naruto said, "I know I haven't exactly made the best first impression. All I am is an outsider stepping on your toes. None of you like me, I can see that as clear as day. But, you need my help. You don't want to admit it, you don't want anything to do with me for that matter. So, don't admit it. Don't like me. Cast me out. But I'm saving that girl. And if you want to send someone to tag along while I do it? Feel free."

"Why do you insist on helping us?" Asked the Border Tribe elder, clearly confused by his motives.

It was T'Challa who answered, "Because…he's just that kind of man."

The room grew silent, everyone's eyes on the prince as he spoke. T'Chaka, studiously looking over at his son, asked, "Do you vouch for this man, my son?"

T'Challa hesitated for a moment before answering, "Yes, Baba. I will vouch for this man."

Smiling, T'Chaka reached over and patted his son on the shoulder, "Then it is decided. You will accompany this man on a rescue mission to save Shuri. You leave in half an hour."

"But my king, all of the suits designed for T'Challa were sabotaged by the traitor T'Shan. Sending him out using any of them is out of the question." Advised the Border Tribe elder, "Speaking of the traitor, we've begun our sweep to decide just how much damage he'd done while in our ranks. And, though we've only scratched the surface it looks like he had his fingers dipped in a lot of different places. Who's to say there aren't others allied with him as well?"

"Perhaps had the prince not decided to kill the traitor, we could've interrogated him for that kind of information." The River Tribe elder grumbled, eyeing the prince.

"We'll discuss all of that later." King T'Chaka said firmly, "For now, I feel our current issue is a bit more pressing."

"What do you want in return?"

Everyone looked over to the Merchant elder, the wrinkled woman's attention solely on the blonde in the front of the room. Blinking, Naruto asked, "Excuse me?"

"You are going to go fight a war for us boy. Clearly, you'll want compensation for such a thing. So, what do you want?" Clarified the elder.

Naruto's answer was quick, "All I want is a private audience with the king."

"Do you really think we'd let you-"

"Everyone out." King T'Chaka ordered firmly.

The Merchant elder looked to her king, "My king, surely you're not going to actuall-"

"If all he wants is to speak with me than I shall accommodate him. Besides, I had planned to speak with him should the opportunity arise. Now leave." The king clarified.

The councilors didn't need another hint, getting up slowly before passing Naruto on their way out of the chambers. T'Challa followed behind them, stopping next to the blonde, "I'll be waiting for you, Uzumaki."

Naruto smiled, "Sure thing. Hey uh, could you get someone to send my friend? I'm sure she's getting antsy waiting around wherever she's at."

T'Challa gave a calm nod before exiting the chambers, leaving Naruto and King T'Chaka alone.

Seeing that the king was waiting for Naruto to speak first, the blonde coughed into his hand awkwardly, "To be honest, I didn't expect you to let me speak to you so soon."

"It's best to get it over with, I think." T'Chaka claimed, shifting in his throne, "Why did you come to Wakanda?"

"The first time I came here, it was a clone of me. He was sent to place a sealing tag that would let me teleport to N'Jadaka Village. I was doing that with every major capital or city on the planet, so don't think that I was picking you guys for any reason other than that. The clone was looking for a good spot to place the tag when the prince and his entourage tried to capture it for questioning. Seeing a guy dressed up as a cat and a group of heavily armored women take out one of my clones got my attention." Naruto explained, "I decided to do a little more reconnaissance after that."

"By that, you mean attacking the general of my Dora Milaje?" T'Chaka accused, "You captured and interrogated her for information. That isn't the work of a benevolent man."

"To be fair, she attacked me." Naruto defended, "My interrogation was totally painless for her, and after I got what I needed I dropped her off right afterwards."

"And what did you learn?" T'Chaka asked.

Naruto took a deep breath before saying, "I learned that Wakanda is the most powerful country on the planet. You've gained that power through an extraterrestrial meteorite that's about the size of a small country, the hunk of rock buried underground. That said rock holds the strongest metal on Earth, maybe even several galaxies. Through centuries of research and trial by fire, you've discovered that it is also the most versatile metal on Earth as well. You use it for everything. Weapons, technology, clothes, infrastructure, you guys have mastered that element to a fine science."

"And I can also assume you learned about our traditions as well?" The king asked. When the blonde nodded, T'Chaka said, "After our ancestors discovered vibranium, we quickly learned what neighboring tribes and villages would do to get their hands on it. We knew that if we wanted to keep that advantage and avoid war, we'd have to pretend it didn't exist. We became reclusive, staying out of matters around us while we built our country from the ground up. Eventually, it became a way of life. We kept to ourselves, only concerned with making sure our people prospered and evolved year by year, decade by decade, century by century."

"And now you have to live with the consequences of that." Naruto said.

"Excuse me?" T'Chaka wondered.

Naruto folded his arms across his chest, "To be honest, at first I was a little pissed when I found out your little secret. You've stood by, letting countless atrocities happen in the name of isolation. But at the end of the day, I understand. This world is a primitive one. If you give them a bigger stick in the name of peace, they'll turn it around on you as a weapon. If you give them access to vibranium, you're asking for a bloodbath. Maybe not then and there, or a year or five from then. But it'll happen. I've seen that kind of war. It isn't something I want to see again."

T'Chaka raised an eyebrow, "You speak as though you're not human."

The blonde smiled, "Guilty as charged."

After a moment, T'Chaka tilted his head back and laughed, "And to think, for a moment I thought you were just some superpowered American coming to my country to judge me and my people's ways of life with no real idea as to our perspective. But in reality, you're just some alien. An outsider looking in." Sighing, the king said, "My ancestors had to deal with European colonization, long before I took the reins of power. Back then, it took all their will not to instigate a war, throwing away our traditions to fight them away from this continent. But, they held their hand, watching in horror to what was happening around them. Seeing you, I saw a physical manifestation of that time. You were a white man, barging into my country doing as you pleased. Even now, knowing what you are, I can't help but draw that conclusion. You claim to understand my ways, that you agree with our traditions. But I don't need your approval. We don't need your acceptance. My ancestors never enjoyed sitting by, watching as the people of Africa were taken away never to return, or the countless massacres that have occurred on that same soil, or the problems that plagued the rest of the world. We see these things and we don't scoff or turn our nose. We cry tears of sorrow, because we know we're just as guilty for their pain. If you wish to ally with us, I will consider it. But don't question or ponder our ways. I do that enough myself every day."

Naruto stood there, taking in the verbal beating. As the king's speech finished, he took a deep breath in before saying, "Clearly, you're a proud man. I have no doubt that you are a good person, and probably an even better king. You look like a man that has sacrificed a lot for his country, and for that you have my respect. But I'm not going to agree to not question you. You look at me, and you see an image that just doesn't match up. I might look like the people that have plagued your land, but I'm not them." He narrowed his eyes, "I'm a self-contained maelstrom. A walking natural disaster. I came to see what you were doing, not out of some self-perceived sense of entitlement, but to see if you were just another group of monsters I had to destroy. Luckily, I see you for the people you are. You're a good people, with good intentions at heart. You have my support on that front. So, out of respect towards you King T'Chaka, you don't want this maelstrom pointed at you. Because no amount of vibranium will protect you from me."

The two glared at each other for a long time, a battle of wills going on between them. Neither blinked for the longest time, standing still until King T'Chaka threw his head back and roared in laughter.

Getting up from his chair, the king stepped up to the blonde, patting him on the shoulder as he said, "You are a brave man, Naruto Uzumaki. You and my son will get along well, I know that for certain." Walking passed him he said, "Come, let's go meet with my son. I'm sure your friend is down with him by now."

-x-

T'Challa stood next to the giant double doors for used for exiting the Golden Palace. Standing next to him was a fidgeting Illyana, the woman looking rather nervous as she stood a few feet away from the prince, on high alert as she waited for Naruto to arrive.

Checking his armor, he sighed as he felt the extra weight the outmoded suit held. Unlike his which had a simple yet sleek black design, his father's was a bit more decorative and bulky. While still colored black, it was highlighted with golden decals, the chest piece more of a slim flak jacket and the leggings more baggy and pants like. Flexing his golden claws, he retracted them back into their place with a loud thrwang noise resound through the halls, causing Illyana to jump.

Deciding to ignore her, he stood at attention when he heard his father's laugh echo through the halls, with Naruto's laugh mixed in as well. Turning the corner, the two walked almost shoulder to shoulder, the king having rested his hand on the blonde's shoulder as he tried to contain his laughter.

"I wish I could have met this Jiraiya." T'Chaka coughed out as his laughter came to a stop.

Naruto smiled, "Yeah, he'd have loved this place."

"Baba." T'Challa called out, causing the king to leave the blonde's side to come speak to his son.

"How does it fit my son?" T'Chaka asked rhetorically, knowing that the suit was made to fit any size.

"It fits perfectly, thank you." The prince answered with a bow of thanks.

The king raised his son up. Grasping his shoulders with both hands, T'Chaka looked his son in the eye as he said, "Bring her back."

"What of Achebe?" T'Challa asked, "The council wants us to bring him in alive-"

"End him, my son. He took my daughter, your sister. He turned T'Shan against us. His death is the only thing he can do to repay for those crimes against us. And don't worry about the council. They answer to me. I will deal with them."

T'Challa nodded firmly, "Yes, Baba."

Naruto walked over to Illyana, smiling as he asked, "Miss me?"

"Yeah." She answered, giving a weak smile.

Frowning, the ninja gave the woman a once over, noticing that her eyes were sunken in and her hands had a slight shake to them, "Are you alright?" He asked in worry.

"I'm fine." She said, trying to come off as strong but failing miserably.

"After you'd been shot, she killed the gunman." Kurama said through the seal.

Quickly getting what Kurama was saying, Naruto stepped a little closer, leaning in close as he whispered, "He was your first one…wasn't he?"

Illyana looked at Naruto in shock, blinking rapidly as she tried to form a response. Finally, she answered, her eyes screwed shot as she said, "…No."

Hesitantly, he placed his hands on her arms, holding her, "Go home."

"I can contin-"

"Go home, get some rest. This isn't a discussion. You're no good to anyone like this." Naruto said firmly.

Illyana looked down, "O-okay." She weakly whispered.

As she opened a portal, Naruto asked, "Do you want a clone to keep you company-"

"No."

Then, the portal closed behind her, leaving Naruto alone as he sighed heavily.

"You'll have to talk to her, Naruto." Kurama advised.

"I know." He thought, "After this."

"Alright, let's go."

Naruto turned to see a ready T'Challa looking at him in anticipation. Nodding, he said, "Yeah, I'm ready."

-x-

Shuri struggled as she was pushed into a large tent, thrown through the flaps to the ground. Getting to her knees, she glared up at the two men that had led her to the tent. Hearing a cough, she turned her attention to the man sitting across from her. However, it was the hand puppet sitting on his hand that got her attention, flaring her confusion as she tried to get to her feet.

Sitting behind his desk, Achebe smiled down at the girl as she got to her feet, "Hello Shuri, I hope your stay with us as been pleasurable."

"If by pleasurable you mean crappy food and worse company, than yeah sure." She grumbled.

"Well, if good company is what you want, allow me to introduce you to Daki." Achebe said, motioning to the hand puppet.

"He's the leader?" Shuri asked incredulously, "You're kidding, right?"

Achebe's hand moved forward, Daki looking down at the princess, "This is no joke child. I am the one who wishes to bring your country to its knees. I suggest you show the proper respect-"

Shuri burst out in laughter, holding her side as she said, "By Bast, you're serious?! That's hysterical!"

The puppet looked to the guard standing next to her, nodding slowly. The guard nodded back before shoving the butt of his gun into Shuri's temple, dropping the princess.

Grunting as she hit the ground, she reached a shaky hand up to feel the blood that was dripping down her temple.

"This is no joke." Daki repeated, "I'll allow that slip up this once. But, if you haven't learned from this experience, I'll do to you what I do to everyone else who refuses to learn from past mistakes, understand?"

Shuri shuffled back to her feet, her knees shaking slightly as she asked, "Why did you bring me here?"

"We've been alerted that a Wakandan plane has landed a few miles outside our camp. More than likely, the king has sent a rescue party. Earlier today, I received the news that your brother was saved by a man with strange abilities. I wasn't given a description, but I can only assume he and your brother have come to rescue you. That can't happen. In five minutes, the plain should be prepped and ready for takeoff. Just know, that if you cause Achebe or my men any trouble, I'll make you regret it. I won't kill you, but you'll with you were dead when my men are done with you. Understand?"

"Yes." Shuri answered, though a gleam of defiance could be seen in her eyes.

Daki chuckled before looking to Achebe, "I'm trusting you my friend. Don't disappoint me."

Achebe nodded earnestly, "Of course Daki, I won't fail you."

"Good, good."

Pulling out a small wooden case, Achebe opened it before carefully taking Daki off his hand, resting the puppet on the soft cushion inside.

Achebe sighed in satisfaction, "Good night, my friend."

-x-

Naruto strapped gripped his chokuto in his hands, looking it over as T'Challa activated the cloaking mechanism on the Wakandan ship that took them there, "So, what's the plan?"

T'Challa placed his helmet over his head, "We'll need to figure out which tent they're keeping her. After that, you start the distraction while I extract her and assassinate Achebe."

"I've already got the recon covered." Naruto said, "I made a clone and had it transform into a bird. She was taken to the largest tent in the center of the campsite. Somehow they know we're here, and they're planning to take her to the plane that's sitting on the other side of the camp. So, I'm going to go in as hard as possible and get all their attention on me. It should be easy for you to get in after that."

T'Challa nodded, adjusting his chest piece, "And what exactly are you planning to do?"

Naruto smirked, his body being covered in a golden flame, his Six Paths Sage Mode taking form, "There's no way their vibranium bullets can get me while I'm like this. I've got some pent-up frustration I've been dying to release on these bastards."

"Did anyone ever tell you that you're a showoff, Uzumaki?" The prince asked. Reaching into his back pouch, he pulled out a small black dot. Giving it to the blonde he said, "We'll use these to communicate. Stick it to the back of your ear."

Nodding, Naruto quickly did as the prince said. Flexing his fist, he grinned, "Alright T'Challa, I'll see you in a bit." Activating his Magnet Release, he took off into the air, flying at top speed.

Sighing as he took off for the camp, T'Challa muttered, "Why him? Of all people that it could've been, why him?"

Naruto grinned widely as he came to a stop several hundred feet above the campsite, "Now, I've got to make a big entrance. What to do, what to do?"

"Don't you think you're going a little overboard using this form?" Kurama asked.

"These guys kidnapped a little girl and are trying to instigate a war. That, and they're the reason I got shot." Naruto argued, "I'm not gonna hold back against these guys. That and I think it's time I sent a message. Not just to Wakanda, but the rest of the world."

"What kind of message?" Kurama asked, "The don't fuck with me kind? Didn't you already do that?"

"I did that with SHIELD. They usually covered up any destruction I caused. And no, no not that kind of message."

"What kind then?"

"The I won't sit around and let things slide kind." Naruto answered.

Kurama sighed, "You're an idiot." Grinning himself, the beast said, "Well alright then, let's fuck some shit up!"

Releasing his Magnet Release, Naruto began to drop towards the ground, aiming himself so that he would land right at the front of the camp. Adjusting his body into an accelerated freefall, Naruto formed a Truth-Seeking Ball, morphing the black chakra construct to surround him as a perfect sphere.

Flipping through several hand signs, he thought to himself, "Lava Style: Magma Rock Fall!"

Emerging from the Truth-Seeking Sphere wrapped around Naruto, a massive amount of molten magma erupted forward, shifting around the sphere to form a massive meteorite made of volatile magmatic rock.

Then, as the giant meteorite grew close to the Earth's floor, Naruto began to channel Lightning Chakra through the Truth-Seeking Sphere, breaking passed the rock and wrapping around it in jagged white wisps of electricity.

"Sage Art: Wrath of the Six Paths Sage!"

BOOM!

-x-

Achebe picked himself off the ground, rubble and ash rolling off his body as he looked up at the chaos before him. In all his life, he never thought he'd see the sight of a lightning covered ball rock and lava smack right in front of his campsite. Luckily, he had begun to take Shuri to the plane parked on the other side of the camp, so other than being thrown off their feet, he and his group were relatively fine.

"What the hell was that?!" Shrieked Shuri as she got up to her knees, watching in shock as a hoard of blonde haired men began to jump around the area on the other side of the camp, breathing fire and causing bursts of wind to pick men off the ground.

"Get up!" Ordered Achebe, picking her up by the arm, "Come on, move!" Pointing at the three men with them, he ordered, "We have to leave before they make their way over here!"

Shuri grunted in pain as the man began to drag her, her eyes wide in wonder as a wall of fire took out the east side of the campsite.

-x-

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" Thought Naruto as he breathed out a thick wall of fire towards the eastern side of the camp. Cutting off the jutsu, he watched as his troupe of clones wreaked havoc on any poor militiaman that got in their way. Having created about a thousand clones, he decided to keep them at his base form. So, the blonde-haired clones were still susceptible to gun fire. Oh well, clones could always be replaced.

Thack Thack Thack!

Naruto barely felt the bullets bounce off his Six Paths Chakra Mode covered torso, looking over lazily as a group of men opened fire on him. Hearing them complain that their vibranium tipped bullets weren't working, he smirked as he shifted his foot on the ground, channeling Earth Chakra into the ground, forcing several spikes of earth to pop out into the men's bodies.

Rushing towards another group of men, he quickly began his onslaught with his chokuto, channeling wind chakra into the blade. Kicking the first man with a swift side kick, he felt the man's chest cave in from the power of the kick. Twirling the sword in a reverse grip, he jabbed backwards in order to stab the man that was trying to sneak up on him, the extended wind blade catching the man behind them both right in the chest. Pulling the blade out, Naruto quickly decapitated the last of the men coming after him.

He was quick with his follow up, slamming his hand on the ground, "Lava Style: Lava Plume!" The ground splitting open, a thick pillar of lava erupted from the cracks of the earth, the lava slowly spreading through the western side of the camp.

Dashing back towards the front part of the camp, he continued his attack. From body destroying punches, crippling kicks, and deadly slashes and stabs, he carved a swath of death through the populace of militiamen. Feeling several sets of memories come flooding in, he fought the urge to stop at the memories of several hundred kids being found by some of his clones.

Creating a few dozen more while he was on the move, he shouted, "Get those kids out of here! No dilly dallying, understand?!" The clones nodded before departing.

Getting annoyed by several hundred clones that were getting shredded by the militiamen's gunfire in the front side of the camp, Naruto decided enough was enough.

"You ready, partner?" Naruto asked.

Kurama smirked in the seal, "Always!"

"Let's keep it a little small thought, don't want to blow away the whole country, do we?"

"Well of course!" Kurama answered sarcastically, his smirk growing savage.

Kurama's ethereal head formed over Naruto's body, the Biju opened his maw wide. Purple and red chakra circulating and merging together into one massive sphere of pure chakra, both partners called out their technique as it shot off like a rocket, "Tailed Beast Bomb!"

BOOM!

-x-

The sound of the plane's whirling engine was cut off by the massive explosion that blasted through the area across from them. The aftermath of the explosion sending a white flash over them, the group flinched in pain as Shuri shrieked, "What the hell is going on?!"

Achebe growled in anger, "What kind of monster is capable of something like that?" Opening the plane's door, he ordered, "Get in girl, get in now!" Looking for the man that was holding Daki, he shouted, "Give me the case, now-"

However, as the man was about to give his leader the case, he jerked in pain, gasping out before he was thrown aside, revealing a crouching Black Panther behind him, his claws drawn out with blood dripping from the golden metal.

"Brother!" Shuri shouted in relief, only to shriek as she was grabbed from behind, Achebe's arm wrapped around her neck.

"Stay back! Stay back!" Achebe shouted, his permanent smile hiding his distress, "I'll kill her, I will!" Withdrawing his sidearm, he pointed the pistol at the girl's temple. Looking at the two other men, he shouted, "Get the case, now!"

T'Challa remained calm, intercepting the two men from getting to the case, incapacitating them with quick strikes and slashes with his vibranium claws. Grabbing the case, he used his enhanced strength to pry open the case to reveal a hand puppet inside.

"Drop him!" Achebe cried, "Drop him right fucking now!"

However, before they could, the earth began to shake and crack open, every tent on the back end of the campsite being destroyed by a pillar or chasms that came from the earth as it was manipulated by the flaming man in the sky.

The shift caused the three of them to almost fall. Taking advantage of it, T'Challa bum rushed Achebe, shoving him away from Shuri, grabbing his sister in a bridal hold. Dashing away, he spoke into his earpiece, "Uzumaki, destroy the plane now!"

"Right." Naruto answered.

Not long after, a ball of fire came rushing in towards the plane.

BOOM!

-x-

Landing on the ground, Naruto walked over the rubble his Earth Jutsu had created, heading into the smoke as he looked for T'Challa and his sister. His clones finishing off any stragglers, he deactivated his Six Paths Chakra Mode.

Channeling a good amount of Wind Chakra, he blew away the smoke that covered him and the area around him. His vision clear, he saw that T'Challa and Shuri were standing over a man, the man on his knees as he cradled something in his hands.

Walking over slowly, he raised an eyebrow when he saw the man crying over a burnt-up hand puppet.

"No, no, no. No." Achebe repeated, cradling Daki's crisped corpse.

T'Challa looked down at his sister, "Look away Shuri." He whispered.

"What?" Shuri asked in a daze.

His claws coming out with a loud thwang, T'Challa repeated, "Look away Shuri. You don't want to see this."

Blinking rapidly in shock, she nodded slowly before turning her head away, closing her eyes as well.

As T'Challa took a step forward, Naruto called out quietly, "T'Challa…don't."

"He has to die, Uzumaki." T'Challa stated, taking another step forward, hovering over Achebe, his hand drawn back to deliver the final blow.

As he was about to drive his claws into the prone man, he found a firm grip stopping him. He didn't bother turning his head to see who had stopped him, "Stop." Naruto said firmly, "Look at him. You…you can't just kill him like this. He's clearly not well."

As they had this debate, Achebe's hand began to creep for something behind him.

"Let go of me, Uzumaki. He's dying today." T'Challa argued, trying to pry his arm free but failing as the blonde's grip grew tighter, "My king has ordered his death, stop keeping me from fulfilling my duty."

Hearing that, Naruto sighed before releasing his grip, only to blink at the sound of a gun's hammer being drawn back. Looking down at Achebe, they saw that his gun was drawn on them. Before T'Challa or Naruto could disarm him, the gun shifted from their position to himself, the barrel now pressed up right against Achebe's temple.

Looking at Shuri from the corner of his eye to make sure she was still looking away, he mumbled, "Shuri…cover your ears."

The girl immediately did as her brother ordered, covering her ears with her hands.

Achebe, his eyes on Daki, muttered to himself, "I failed you. I failed you." Closing his eyes as tears began to build and cascade, he whispered, "I'll be with you soon."

Bang!