24 Rolling in deep (1/2)

Location: CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia

Date: March 28th, 2015

-x-

The faint hum of the vibrating florescent lights that were lined up one after another on the ceiling could be heard in the nearly vacant waiting room, giving a strange sense of comfort in the otherwise quiet space. The creak that came from Jessica Drew shifting in her chair cut through that hum like a knife, the receptionist looking up from her computer to see what all the commotion was about.

Clearing her throat, Jessica gave a slight nod that was ignored, the receptionist swerving her attention back to her task. Sighing to herself, Jessica fought the urge to pull out her phone to pass the time, knowing that being on her phone in such a place was frowned upon. It wasn't long before a new wave of silence hung in the air, the room's stifling climate making time move at a crawl.

Finally, the silence was interrupted for a second time by the sharp ringing of the reception desk's telephone. Quickly swiping the phone off its dock, the receptionist needlessly nodded to what the person on the other side was saying as she muttered into the mouthpiece.

Placing the phone back down she looked up as she said, ”You can go in now, Agent Drew.”

Jessica looked from the receptionist to the door right across from her, a golden plaque showcasing a title and name, ”Deputy Director of the CIA, Benjamin Hunt.”

Getting up, she flattened out her black two-button business jacket, ”Thank you.” She said curtly, her English accent prominent.

Walking forward, Jessica reached out and grasped the brass door knob, the old wooden door squeaking open as she stepped into the large office. Expensively furnished, she took in the smell of old pine as she looked at the two other occupants in the room. Standing just to her right was the Associate Deputy Director, Ethan Vargas. With his back ramrod straight, he stood nearly a foot taller than her, his basic black business pressed and pristine. His black hair was cropped short, with specks of grey loitered throughout.

”Take a seat.” Vargas ordered, opening one of the files in his hands as he did.

Doing as her superior asked, she took a seat in front of the simple computer desk in front of her. Looking over at the man sitting across from her, she observed that he was a few decades older than Vargas, his white hair having long turned into a deep widow's peak. His wrinkled brow furrowed in thought, he simply stared her as he waited for his subordinate to begin.

Clearing his throat to get Jessica's attention, Vargas began to read from the file, ”Agent Jessica Drew, born 19 October 1983 to Doctors Jonathon and Miriam Drew. Graduated from Oxford at age 20, you joined the Royal Navy. Immediately after graduation where you were deployed into the Iraq War. Your mission history there caught the attention of SHIELD's Secretary, Alexander Pierce. Graduating at the top of your class as a SHIELD trainee, you quickly began to move through SHIELD's ranks as a part of the special task force dubbed SPEAR. After the agency's disbandment a year ago, you were transferred over to Langley, working within the Special Activities Division.”

Jessica could only sit and listen as Vargas read off her file. As he finished, she asked, ”Am I being assigned a new mission, sir?”

Vargas ignored her question, snapping the file shut as he said, ”Your work in Budapest was quite remarkable. Your handler, Markus, was very impressed with your abilities.”

”Thank you, sir.” Jessica replied calmly.

Folding his arms behind his back he asked, ”What was it they called you over at SHIELD, again?”

Fighting the urge to sigh, she answered, ”Arachne.” Shifting her body so that she could face Vargas, she asked, ”Is there an assignment for me, sir?”

”Yes, a long-term assignment, in fact.” Vargas answered, now looking to Deputy Director Hunt.

Folding his hands over his desk, Hunt spoke softly, ”What can you tell me about the alien known as Naruto Uzumaki?”

Jessica blinked, ”Well, not much to be honest.”

”You worked with him during your time in SHIELD, did you not?” The Deputy Director asked.

”I had only worked with him on a single mission, other than that I only knew him in passing.” Jessica admitted.

”Tell me what you can then.” Vargas offered, though his tone of voice came off as an order.

Fighting the urge to shift in her chair, Jessica allowed herself a moment of thought before speaking, ”If I could use one word, powerful. On our only mission we had together, my report detailed my belief that he was a walking weapon of mass destruction and espionage wrapped up into one tight bundle. He could slip into anywhere appearing as anyone, obliterate anything in his path, and act as his own mobile army. I gathered all of that in the two weeks I was assigned to work with him.”

Hunt nodded slowly, ”Yes, we've gathered that ourselves. Is there anything you can say about his…behavior?”

”Are you asking me if he's dangerous?” She asked.

”We already know for a fact that he is dangerous. It would be stupid of us not to.” Vargas answered.

”What are you asking of me then?”

Hunt's sharp look held back Vargas's snappish answer, the older man reigning himself in before he said, ”I think we can all agree that his actions are veryperplexing. He arrived here seven years ago, where he is quickly requited into SHIELD. Sponsored by them, Uzumaki helped in the destruction of several Hydra bases of operation, most notably their Weapons Research facility in Sankt Georgen.” Sighing to himself he continued, ”However, it quickly became apparent that his main focus was returning to his home, wherever that might be. In his search, he inadvertently found himself involved in the Symkarian Revolt, killing off every head conspirator on the revolution's side, and helped in the crippling of the organization AIM, who was unbeknownst to anyone else escalating the situation. The body count he left behind that day was massive to say the least.”

”I'm sorry sir, but how is any of that perplexing behavior? He ended a conflict that would've cost thousands of more lives.” Jessica asked.

”It's perplexing because the United States had invested interest in the Symkarian Revolt.” Vargas answered.

Jessica blinked, ”You…wanted the revolution to succeed?”

Hunt nodded, ”And Uzumaki turned that plan on its head.”

”Do you think that Uzumaki did it on purpose? Do you honestly think that he would interfere with our interests?” She asked in exasperation. Seeing their shared look, she continued, ”Why? What would he possibly gain from that?”

”Why would he destroy an encampment of African militants in and outside the border of Wakanda?” Hunt asked back, ”Wakanda is completely isolated from the world. However, from what we can discern something rather disastrous occurred, and the country decided to involve themselves with Uzumaki in a bid to fix it. What that event was, who else was involved, any other bits of information really, is a total mystery.”

Vargas stepped in, opening the files back up as he pulled out a few sets of photographs, ”Here he is in Manhattan, with a private investigator by the name of Jessica Jones.” Slapping down the photo, he waited as Jessica picked it up to see Uzumaki walking down Manhattan's streets with an attractive woman. Pulling out the next photo, Vargas continued, ”Only four hours later, these were taken. Halfway across the world.”

Taking the second photo, Jessica raised an eyebrow at what looked like a meteor made of lava and lightning falling from the sky, ”Where was this taken?”

”Ethiopia.” Hunt answered.

The third picture was an aerial photograph, showcasing what looked like a massive brawl between several dozen Naruto Uzumakis and an imposing force of militiamen, ”After the event, a satellite picked up the ensuing fight. Not long after we managed to pick it up though, we were hacked by an unknown source, preventing us from seeing anymore of the skirmish.”

”So, you assume that he has aligned himself with Wakanda?” Jessica asked, ”And how exactly is that a bad thing? Wakanda is the definition of a neutral party.”

”Uzumaki is the descendent of the atomic bomb in the sense that whoever has him under their control holds all the cards. They transcend the world superpowers.” Hunt spoke, ”As we speak, Director Norris is meeting with the White House to discuss the eventual meeting with Naruto Uzumaki, who is currently being sponsored by Tony Stark and Captain Steve Rogers. They believe that we need to keep an eye on him, until we can convince him that siding with the United States is in his best interests.”

Realization dawning on her, Jessica sat forward in her chair as she asked, ”And you want me to watch him, don't you?”

Deputy Director Hunt nodded, ”From what Stark has told us, Uzumaki is forming his own team similar to the Avengers. Stark assures us his intentions are good, though he refuses to outright say why the man is forming a team of his own rather than working with the Avengers to begin with. Our intention is for you to act as our liaison within the group, using your abilities as a way to convince him allow you to join.”

”Sir, you overestimate my abilities-” She began, only to be cut off by Hunt.

”Your superiors within SHIELD claimed that you were one of their top agents. The only thing that kept you out of the Avengers Initiative was your own refusal to join.” Hunt spoke softly, ”However, unlike Director Fury, I'm not giving you much of an option. You are to take this assignment, understood?”

Jessica fought every instinct she had to show her distaste for the situation, instead keeping a straight face as she said, ”Yes sir, I understand.”

”Good.”

-x-

T'Challa grunted as he was thrown onto his back, the sound of his skin smacking against the practice matt echoing through the room. Flipping himself onto his hands and knees, he reached out and grabbed Naruto's knee. Pulling back and tripping up the blonde, he tackled the downed man, attempting to grapple himself into a proper choke hold. That proved practically impossible, as Naruto easily kept himself out of T'Challa's grip with almost cocky swatting.

A cough interrupted their wrestling match, the two looking up to see Okoye staring down at them with a raised eyebrow, ”My prince, Nakia wishes to speak with you.” She said promptly.

Grunting, the prince of Wakanda threw the blonde off of him, ”Tell her I'll be there in a moment.” He muttered, getting up as he wiped away the sweat that had begun to drip down his brow.

Scowling, Okoye said, ”I am your general, my prince. Not your messenger.”

Naruto chuckled at the prince's look of annoyance. Looking over at the general he said, ”Don't take his shitty mood personally, he's just mad that he was losing is all.”

”I wasn't losing Uzumaki.” T'Challa shot back, ”I'm still convinced you are breaking our agreement.”

”Hey, when I agreed to not use my powers if you agreed to not use your fancy metal gadgets, I meant it. I don't break promises.” Naruto said with a scowl of his own. Pulling on the shirt the royal family had loaned him, Naruto straightened the dark blue fabric.

Pulling on his own royal purple shirt, T'Challa spoke, ”Perhaps we should duel with swords then?”

”So we can find you cut to bits?” Okoye asked, ”No, no I think this is enough.”

”You don't believe in my ability, General?” The prince asked defensively.

Okoye shook her head, ”It's not that I don't trust your ability, but rather that I don't trust him.” She finished with her eyes drilling into Naruto's skull.

”Okoye.” T'Challa drawled out, ”Uzumaki is an honored guest here by order of my father, your king. And, if he is to stay here he is to at least be made useful.”

Naruto gave a lazy wave, ”Uh, right here guys.” He said, not appreciating the two of them talking as though he weren't present.

He was ignored however, ”Your father neglects to remember how dangerous he is.” Okoye stated.

”And you neglect to remember that he saved my sister.” T'Challa shot back.

”And you neglect to remember what he did to me.” Okoye returned, ”He defiled my mind, looked into memories that didn't belong to him!”

”Hey!” Naruto shouted, clearly offended, ”I didn't defile anything! I kept out of your memories, I only looked for information on Wakanda. If your offended-”

”I don't get offended.” Okoye said harshly, getting nose to nose with the blonde, ”I am the greatest warrior in Wakanda, Black Panther or no. What I am is someone who respects privacy. Both for myself and my country. Clearly you don't respect either of those things.” With that, Okoye stalked off in a huff.

The room now quiet, T'Challa looked to the dumbfounded blonde, ”I don't think you'll find a friend in her, Uzumaki.”

Sighing, Naruto looked to the prince with a smile, ”And what about you?”

T'Challa gave a small smile in return, ”I'm usually not one for friends, Uzumaki.” Patting him on the shoulder, the prince began to walk away, ”I'll be seeing you then.”

Smiling after the man, Naruto asked, ”How about comrade then? Companion maybe?”

”I was thinking of something more like a jester.” T'Challa called back as he turned the corner, ending the conversation much to the blonde's annoyance.

-x-

Naruto looked down at the bustling city, the blonde perched over a railing within the main palace. Smiling fondly, he watched as the citizens of Wakanda went about their daily routine, all of them one hundred percent oblivious to the goings on of the outside world.

Not bothering to look behind him, Naruto called out, ”You can come out now.”

Peeking out from behind the corner a several feet away, Shuri cursed to herself. Knowing there was no point in hiding any longer, the girl slowly stepped out into the open. Hesitantly, she began to walk towards the imposing blonde-haired man, clutching the bundle in her hand tightly.

Swallowing the saliva that had begun to gather in her throat, she asked, ”Do you know who I am?”

Turning around, the shinobi answered, ”Of course I do. You're the princess. Shuri, right?”

Shuri nodded, ”And you're the man that saved me.” She declared.

”That's right.”

The princess shifted on her feet for a moment, ”You're not human…are you?” The princess asked.

Naruto blinked, ”What makes you say that?”

”I saw the footage, what you did when you and my brother came for me. What you did…there's no way you are human.” Shuri said softly.

”What am I then?” He asked, both joking and curious of her answer.

Shuri hesitated for a moment, ”Something of a worldly angel, I suppose.”

Naruto's smile grew a little bigger, ”Your father told me you were smart.”

The girl blinked, ”My father talked to you about me?”

”We've talked a lot in the few days I've stayed here, you came up a few times.” Naruto revealed, ”He's a very proud father.”

Shuri, without realizing it, had walked over onto the balcony, the girl standing right next to the blonde-haired man. Silently, she enjoyed the view of several hundred lively Wakandans going about the daily routine.

Giving the man a side glance, the girl asked, ”Why areyou still here?”

”Does my presence here offend you?” He asked, ”Your general, Okoye, doesn't seem to want me here. Not that I can blame her.”

”No!” Shuri blurted out. Calming herself as she mentally cursed her outburst, she said, ”No, no it doesn't. I'm just curious is all.”

His gaze hovering over the people of Wakanda, Naruto answered, ”I guess you could say I like your home, this city.”

”Why?”

”Because it reminds me of my home.” He admitted.

Shuri tilted her head in curiosity, ”Really?”

Naruto nodded, ”It's kind of eerie really, how similar Wakanda is to Konoha. The people, the culture, it's all bringing a lot back for me.” Sighing, he continued, ”I hate this feeling, if I'm being honest.”

”Why?” The princess wondered.

The ninja shrugged, ”I don't know, it just reminds me of my childhood, more than anything else.”

”Was it bad?” She asked.

Looking down at the young girl, Naruto said, ”I'm not exactly proud of my childhood. I'm not proud of my fellow villagers either, or myself and how I handled my situation.” Chuckling to himself, he muttered, ”I was a bit of an asshole as a kid, not that anyone else around me was much better.”

”Well, you seem like a good person now.” Shuri said, ”You're like a knight, or something.”

Naruto snorted in amusement, ”A knight?”

Shuri huffed in offence, ”Well, you saved me, didn't you? I'm a princess. When you save a princess, you become a knight. That's just common sense.”

”So that makes me your knight then, huh?” Naruto asked with a knowing smile.

Turning to face away from the smirking blonde, Shuri muttered, ”I never said anything like that.”

Chuckling to himself, Naruto finally took notice of the bundle in her hands, ”Whatcha got there?”

Swallowing down her embarrassment, Shuri turned to face the much taller Naruto, ”I'm not like any of those silly fairytale princesses or whatever. I don't like leaving a debt unsettled. So, here.” Shoving the clothed bundle into the curious blonde's hands, she said, ”This is my thanks to you.”

Looking down at the mystery object in his hands, Naruto slowly unraveled the brown fabric wrapped around it, revealing a metallic cylinder that was a little over a foot long.

Lifting a curious eyebrow, Naruto asked, ”What is it?”

”It's a vibranium spear, a modified version of the weapons used by the Dora Milaje, to be specific.” Shuri answered, ”Go on then, whip it out.” She said encouragingly.

Ignoring how the girl decided to fraise that sentence, Naruto took a few steps back before slinging the cylinder with a sharp swing. Mid-swing, the sound of metal being unsheathed wrung throughout the balcony, followed by Naruto's appreciative, ”Woah.”

The weapon was clearly designed to resemble a naginata, though the staff and blade were straight rather than having a slight curve and it was missing any kind of guard. Around five feet long, the staff covered around two-fifths of the weapon, leaving the rest to the dangerously sharp single edged blade. Giving the weapon a testing swirl, Naruto felt a great amount of satisfaction at hearing the vibranium sing as it cut through the air.

”I named her Nakama.” Shuri said, smiling at seeing that Naruto liked the gift, ”Though, you can change it if you want.”

”No, no it's perfect.” Naruto said, smiling down at the girl softly. Retracting Nakama back to her base form, he channeled chakra into the storage seal at the palm of his hand, summoning one of his father's Hiraishin Kunai. Flipping the weapon in his hand so he was holding the center blade, the blonde handed the weapon over to the girl.

”What is this?” Shuri asked, inspecting the strange looking knife in her hands, careful not to cut herself on the razor-sharp edges.

”This weapon once belonged to my father.” Naruto told her, getting a surprised reaction from the young princess, ”It has a special power that lets me travel to it instantly, no matter how far away from each other we may happen to be. Whether it be hours, countries, or planets away. All you have to do is stab it into something, and I'll know you want to summon me.” Grabbing her hands, he guided them so that they were holding the kunai correctly.

Shuri looked away from the man, avoiding eye contact as his hands touched hers, ”You're kinda ruining the whole repaying my debt thing, you know that right?”

Naruto chuckled, ”No, I don't think so. Back in the day, my father would hand these out to the people he wanted to protect. Both as a way to get to them quickly, and to give them a sense of security in knowing that he was always watching out for them. So, consider this a symbolic gesture of our friendship.”

”Th-thank you.” Shuri muttered out.

About to speak, Naruto was interrupted by the sound of someone's muffled cough into their hand. Turning the two were surprised to find Queen Romanda standing in the balcony door frame in all her glory. Standing in a luxurious black gown, her neck and torso covered by elegant neckpiece, she was the definition of royalty. For once, she had let her hair down, showing off her snow-white hair.

Taking several graceful steps forward, she calmly said, ”Shuri, your father wishes to speak with you.”

Shuri nodded, ”Okay, Mama.” Giving Naruto and his gift to her one last look, she gave him a parting nod before walking passed her mother back into the grand halls of the Golden Palace.

Romanda kept her eyes on Naruto the entire time, eyeing him with scrutiny as her daughter left the two of them alone. Finally, she said, ”My daughter has taken quite a liking to you, Uzumaki.”

Naruto tried to give his most carefree smile, ”You can call me Naruto, if you want.”

”No, no I think Uzumaki will do for now.” The queen said back, ”I never did get to say thank you for what you did for my family, what with all the funerals and all.”

The blonde immediately knew what she was talking about, referencing the many funerals that had taken place at the beginning of his visit. Naruto had declined to attend, feeling very out of place in what he knew would be a somber event. The only reason he'd stayed at all was because King T'Chaka had invited him to stay within the palace as his guest. He knew not to refuse such an open invite, for fear of insulting the royal family, but it didn't help the awkward air that hung in the palace that first day.

Especially when members of the Jabari Tribe had come to take the body of a man named M'Baba home. Apparently, his brother was the leader of the tribe, a man named M'Baku. It was needless to say that M'Baku had plenty to say to both T'Challa and the king, his angry yells echoing through the entire palace.

”There's no need to thank me.” Naruto assured.

”If there's a need for it or not, I still do.” Romanda returned, ”You saved my daughter from a situation I helped put her in. If it weren't for you, her fate would've been laid to bare on my shoulders.” Turning away, she finished, ”You can except my thanks or you can ignore it. All the same, I am indebted to you.”

Following after the now walking queen, Naruto said, ”Well, I except your thanks.” Hearing the fluttering of wings, he turned as he exited the balcony, a large one-eyed raven perched near where he'd been standing. It's single eye glowing a strange green, Naruto blinked at the strange animal before turning his attention back to the monarch.

Romanda nodded at the blonde's words, ”Much like my daughter felt the need to reimburse her debt, I do as well. That is why I have convinced the council to allow my husband to assist you, in the very limited way he can.”

Realizing they were heading towards the Council's Chambers, Naruto asked, ”Really?”

The queen nodded, ”My husband will explain.”

The two then walked in silence, Romanda keeping her stoic gaze while Naruto looked at her inquisitively. Shruggling to himself, Naruto decided to follow after the elegant woman.

Walking through the large council chamber doors, the two were greeted by the king, his children, and a squad of Dora Milaje led by Okoye.

”Naruto, welcome!” King T'Chaka bellowed out, ignoring the look his wife gave him as she strolled over to his side.

Naruto inclined his head, ”King T'Chaka, how are you?”

”I'm fine, I'm fine. I have some news for you, regarding your request.” The ruler of Wakanda informed, leaning forward in his throne.

The ninja nodded along, recognizing that the king was referring to his request that Wakanda be a part of Infinity Watch, in any capacity, ”Yeah, Queen Romanda mentioned the council had finally let up a bit.” He said, ignoring the queen's indignant look.

”We've come to an agreement, yes.” Eyeing his wife, T'Chaka smiled, ”Romanda's argument was very inspiring.”

Romanda ignored her husband, keeping a straight face as she said, ”Get to it, dear.”

”Of course, dear.” Placated the King to his wife, ”The council and I have come to an agreement concerning your request for assistance from Wakanda.”

Naruto nodded along to the king, waiting patiently for the older man to get to it.

T'Chaka shifted in his seat, running his right hand through his beard, ”I'm sorry to say that I can't allow Wakanda to invest any kind of military man power. I'm sure you can understand why. As far as my son joining your group's ranks, that's his decision, not mine.”

All eyes turned to T'Challa, the stoic prince stepping forward, ”I'll have to decline the offer. Despite what you've told me of these Infinity Gems-”

”Stones.” Naruto corrected, though his interruption was ignored by the warrior prince.

”And as far as your group goes, the few of you there are, I can't pledge myself to something outside of Wakanda.” The prince finished.

The blonde frowned at the man across from him, but shrugged none the less, ”I understand.”

The King of Wakanda cut in, ”While my eldest is staunch in his refusal, my youngest has a proposal for you.” T'Chaka looked to his daughter, who seemed to almost shrink into herself when all eyes turned over to her, ”Go ahead Shuri.”

”Right.” Shuri mumbled, stepping forward like her brother had, ”Well, the idea was that I'd join Infinity Watch, instead of my brother.”

”Really?” Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow, surprised that the younger girl would want to join his band of merry men.

”Uh, yeah.” Shuri said back, ”Well, it wouldn't be fulltime.”

”Oh, so you want to be a part-time Watcher then?” Naruto teased with a smile.

Shuri shook her head, ”I'm offering my services to you and your crew, that includes funding, we can more than afford to bankroll you guys.”

Both of Naruto's eyebrows were raised now, ”So, if I make you a Quasi-Watcher, you'll give me tech and funding?”

Shuri scoffed a little, ”I was thinking that I'd be your quartermaster, actually. I'd be based in Wakanda, but I'll be on call, if you need me.” Shuri explained, her confidence showing the more she talked.

T'Chaka decided to cut in, ”I think I should inform the both of you that I can't allow Shuri's extracurricular activities interfere with her duties to Wakanda.”

Romanda spoke next, a proud smile on her face, ”Shuri is to take over as Head of Wakanda's R&D.”

Naruto eyed the princess for a moment before walking up to her at a slow pace, ignoring the aggressive stance many of the Dora Milaje made towards him, ”This sounds great, awesome in fact. But it sounds like I'm the only one getting anything out of this. So, what's in it for you? I'm honestly down to haggle.”

Shuri looked up at him in confusion, ”What are you talking about? I don't want anything. I just want to be a part of your team. Why is that Magik woman on the team? What does she get out of it?”

The blonde smiled down at the bright young girl, ”Touché.” He extended his hand out, ”Deal, welcome to Infinity Watch.”

The girl smirked in victory, grabbing his hand to seal the deal. The hand shake over, she looked around at everyone around her as she said, ”If I'm honest, I thought this moment would be a bit cooler with like fireworks or a parade or something.”

The leader of Infinity Watch chuckled, ”I'll work on it.”

-x-

The Next Day

Location: New York City, New York

-x-

Naruto stumbled slightly as he Hiraishined into Illyana's apartment using the kunai he'd given her. The stumble was caused by Naruto's landing being right on top of a bottle, nearly tripping over himself before regaining his balance. Looking around to make sure no one spotted that slip up, he coughed as he collected himself.

Bending over, he picked up the bottle that nearly made him fall on his ass. Recognizing it as a wine bottle, he read the label, ”Brotherhood Cabernet Sauvignon?” Setting the bottle back down he looked around the apartment for Illyana. Taking notice of the now unkempt living room, he frowned at the empty pizza box and various other forms of garbage.

”Illyana?” Naruto called out, walking into the hallway, ”Illyana, you home?”

Getting no response, he pulled out his cell phone and quickly selected her contact info. Pressing the phone to his ear. Several ring tones later, Illyana finally answered, though her voice was strangely muffled, ”What?” She blurted out over the phone.

”Hey, uh, I was just wondering where you were?” Naruto asked, ”I'm back. From Wakanda I mean.”

She was quiet for a few moments before answering, ”I'm down by the pool.”

Naruto blinked, ”You have a pool?”

”Not in so many words.” Illyana slurred.

The blonde ninja sighed, ”I'm coming down.”

Heading down to the apartment's lobby, Naruto spotted an employee hovering by the exit, waiving to him, Naruto asked, ”Hey, can you tell me where the pool is?”

The employee gave Naruto a confused look, ”Sir, we don't have a pool here.”

”What? Really? Are you sure?” He asked, looking around.

Nodding, the man said, ”I'm sure, sir.”

”Oh.” Naruto scratched his scalp, ”Where's the nearest one then?”

”There's a hotel two blocks away, it has a pool I think. But it's only for people who have a room.”

”Right, thanks.” Naruto said with a solute. Walking out of the building, he began his trek towards the hotel pool. Walking passed a fountain that was stationed in front of the apartment's forecourt garden, he blinked when he noticed that several people had stopped what they were doing to look at said fountain.

Deciding to bend under the will of peer pressure, Naruto looked to see what was so entertaining, only to catch himself gasping at who he saw lying in the shallow fountain water.

”Illyana?” He asked aloud, cutting through the crowd towards the woman. Looking around at the gathered crowd he sighed as he asked, ”What are you doing?”

Illyana shrugged in the water as she brought a bottle of vodka to her lips, visibly wincing as she took a swig. Gulping it down, she slurred, ”I told you, I'm at the pool.”

Taking stock of the fact she was wearing a black two-piece bikini, he said, ”This isn't a pool, Ana.”

The woman paused at the name, scoffing as she mumbled, ”Don't call me that.”

Grunting, the blonde stepped over the hem of the fountain, flinching at the cold water as he waded over to the unmoving woman, ”Come on, let's get you inside.”

She groaned, ”I'm not done yet.”

”I know.” Naruto said, pulling off his jacket and wrapping around the wet and scantily clad woman's shoulders, ”But this isn't a pool, people are looking at you.” He looked around at the crowd of people, some of the younger ones having pulled their phones out to record them.

Illyana blinked, ”This isn't a pool?”

”No.”

”Oh shit.” She began to laugh, ”That's hilarious.”

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle as well as he lifted her up to her feet, ”Leave the bottle, you've had enough.”

Looking down at the bottle in her hand, she gave its contents a quick look before saying, ”It's nearly empty anyway.”

-x-

Naruto grunted as he sat Illyana down on her couch. Picking up the pizza box that was sitting on the cushion, he threw it onto the coffee table as he lifted her legs up so she was lying down. Shifting her on her side, he asked, ”Do you have a small trashcan or something?”

Illyana nodded, lying on her back as she rested the back of her hand on her forehead, ”In the bathroom, down the hall.”

Grabbing her shoulder, he said, ”Lay on your side, like this.” Pulling forward, he made her lie on her side. Going off to get the trashcan, he came back to find her up on her feet, ”What are you doing?”

Scratching her head, she said, ”I was gonna get us something to drink. I swear I still had something over here.”

”I think you drank it all.” Naruto muttered, grabbing her gently he put her back on the couch in the same position as before.

”Why did you need my trashcan again?” Illyana drawled weakly.

Holding onto her shoulders, the ninja answered, ”Because you're probably gonna need it after a while.”

”Oh.” She, though Naruto guessed that she didn't really get why.

The two sat in silence for several minutes, Naruto gently rubbing her shoulder as she seemed to be in her own world, staring off into the corner of the room. Deciding to break the quiet, Naruto asked, ”Why are you doing this?”

His answer came in the form of a muffled snore, causing his to sigh in annoyance. Moving the pillow in a way that her head wouldn't move in her sleep, Naruto got up and created a clone.

Looking to his copy, he said, ”Go over to Jessica's apartment and tell the clone to pop. I'm sure she'll want to talk to me even though I'll know what happened, so stick around and answer any questions she has that we'd want to be answered.”

The clone nodded, an annoyed look on his face, ”You know you don't have to tell me that, right? I'm your clone, I know what you want me to do as soon as you make me, idiot.”

His eye twitching, the original muttered, ”Just do what your told before I pop you and have another Shadow Clone do it instead.”

”You act like I'm scared of-”