26 A change gonna come (1/2)

Present Time

Location: Washington DC

-x-

Naruto blinked as he did a quick switcharoo with his clone. Looking around the waiting room, he asked, ”What'd I miss?”

Tony and Steve looked at the blonde in confusion, ”What?” Stark asked, quickly noticing that the ninja wasn't wearing the same clothes he'd been wearing before.

Coughing to clear his throat, Naruto answered, ”I'm the real one. I'm…you know, me.”

Looking around the room, Steve leaned in, ”How did you do that…exactly?”

”If I answer that, can you tell me how you get the shield to always come back to you after you bounce it around?” Naruto challenged.

Steve gave the blonde a momentary stare before leaning back, ”Fair enough.”

Tony decided to answer the blonde's original question, ”We've been sitting around waiting to be called in for the last thirty minutes. So, to answer your question, nothing. You've missed nothing.”

Looking down at his clothes, Naruto realized that he'd been wearing the same clothes he'd been wearing during his raid. Going through his clone's memories, he quickly transformed his clothes into what he'd been wearing.

This proved to be just in time, as the door opened to reveal Secretary Ross coming through. Walking with him was a man of a similar age, though shorter in stature and pudgier in appearance. His hair was slicked back and well groomed, a thick beard wrapped around his face.

The three got up, Steve and Tony shaking the two's hands.

Rogers was the one who spoke, ”Secretary Ross, Director Norris.” He greeted.

Ross nodded along, ”Captain Rogers.”

CIA Director Norris took Tony's hand, ”It's a pleasure to meet you.”

”Sorry for the wait.” Ross apologized sincerely, his eyes on Naruto the entire time, ”We ran into a bit of a mishap.”

”Mishap?” Steve asked.

Ross still had his eyes on Naruto, ”There was a…blimp in Sokovia.” When the blonde didn't blink under his stare, he turned to the other two with a smile, ”Well, follow me.”

The three followed after them, being led into a large conference room. Sitting at the large table in the middle of the room were two others. Ross decided to do the introducing.

”For those of you not familiar, this is Director of National Security, Douglas Chapman.” He motioned to the man sitting on the left. A lanky man of African complexion, he gave a small smile as he stood up and shook the three's hands.

Looking over to the woman sitting a few seats to Chapman's right, Ross finished his introductions, ”And this is Agent Jessica Drew of the CIA. I'm sure Captain Rogers and Mr. Uzumaki are familiar with her.”

Jessica remained seated, though she gave Rogers and Naruto a costumery nod of acknowledgement.

The three heroes took a seat across from the other four, with Naruto situated in the middle with Tony to his left and Steve his right.

Ross cleared his throat as he began, ”Before we get started, I just figured we'd explain why we were forced to make you wait.”

”You mean the little mishap.” Tony interpreted. Leaning back in his seat he said, ”Yeah I think we all figured out what you were referring to.”

”Who you were referring to.” Steve added. Deciding to take the lead, he continued, ”Who being Naruto, what being his raid on a Hydra base in Sokovia.”

Chapman cut in, ”Were you aware of his intention to raid said Hydra base?”

”Obviously not.” Tony answered, ”Otherwise we would've helped him out. More than likely that's why he didn't tell us.”

”He told us after he showed up.” Steve clarified, ”We had no clue it had happened until then.”

”Did you have any clue that he planned to wipe if off the face of the Earth with…whatever it is he did?” Director Norris asked. Seeing their confusion, he directed their attention towards the television situated on the sidewall. Turning in on, he flipped to CNN.

On the screen, a reporter could be seen standing within what looked like a warzone, ”-arely thirty minutes ago. From eyewitness reports and recordings made, many have come to the conclusion that the Avenger known as Maelstrom is responsible for the attack here in Novi Grad. Why or who he is fighting is still unclear, but it is clear that he was attacking an old castle within Novi Grad hillside. That castle is now gone after it was attacked by Maelstrom after taking the form of a giant nine tailed fox. Please stand by for more information, we are getting new reports and bits of information with every minute that goes by-”

The TV cut out, everyone's attention back on Norris as he spoke, ”So what exactly were you after, Mr. Uzuamki?”

It was Tony who answered, ”We already told you, he was raiding a Hydra base-”

”I'm sorry Tony,” Ross interrupted as he motioned to Naruto, ”But, I'd like Mr. Uzumaki to answer. If we want your opinion, we'll ask for it.”

With that, everyone's attention turned to the still silent blonde. Sighing loudly, Naruto closed his eyes in thought, ”I raided the base because they had something I wanted. Originally, all I wanted was to get in and go. But then I realized that they'd been using the thing I wanted to experiment on people. So, I blew them straight to hell.”

Chapman leaned in, ”What were you looking for, specifically?”

”Loki's scepter.”

That got the other side of the table's attention, ”You…recovered the scepter?” Norris asked.

”Yes.”

”And where is the weapon now?” Chapman asked.

”With Doctor Banner over at Stark Tower.” Naruto answered nonchalantly.

Ross laughed to himself, ”You gave a weapon of mass destruction to another weapon of mass destruction?”

Naruto shrugged, ”Well, I took out the 'mass' part of the destruction, so it should be fine.”

This confused everyone in the room but the blonde, ”What?” Steve asked.

”I took out the thing that made it dangerous.” He explained simply.

”And what did you do with the…thing?” Ross asked.

”…I gave it to Dr. Banner?” Raising his hands up when he saw the incredulous he received he said, ”Without something to channel it, it's just a really smart rock. All anyone can do is study it to see how it ticks. Tony asked me to let him have a look.”

Seeing everyone turning their disbelief onto Tony he sighed, ”Thanks kid.”

”You're welcome!” Naruto answered cheerfully.

”Well, uh, I have perfect confidence in Dr. Banner's ability to not use the weapon as a weapon of mass destruction.” Tony said in an attempt at an appeasing manner, ”Besides, if the kid's right then there's not much he or I could do with it anyway other than a quick once over. So, loosen your buttholes please.”

Ross sighed in agitation, ”What is the thing that powers it? I'll feel a lot better about the situation if you'd at least explain why it's not an issue for an unstable scientist to have it.”

Tony cut in, ”Technically speaking, Banner isn't unstable. It's the other guy we all have to worry about.”

”Anyone that willingly tests gamma-radiation on themselves should be considered unstable.” Norris argued.

”Ah, but authorizing and supervising said test is totally acceptable. Got it.” Stark fired back quickly, looking at the former general turned politician.

Ross decided to end that line of conversation, ”Enough. Now, Uzumaki if you'd please.”

Shifting uncomfortably as in his seat, Naruto said, ”Look, why don't you just get down to brass tacks already and just get to why you brought me here.”

”Fine.” Ross consented, though he clearly didn't want to, ”But first, I think Director Chapman had some questions for you.”

Chapman opened the binder that was set out in front of him. Clearing his throat as he straightened his tie, he began to read, ”Mr. Uzumaki, this is not an official inquiry or deposition. You are not being accused of or charged with any crimes you may or may not have committed in the seven years you've been a resident of this planet-”

”Four.” Naruto corrected, ”I was gone for three years.”

”…in the four years you've been a resident of this planet. We simply wish to iron out the timeline of your time here, ask several questions we've gathered, and allow a dialogue between us that hopefully leads to a plentiful relationship for both sides. Is that understandable?”

Naruto looked to Tony and Steve. When he got a nod from them, he gave one of his own, ”I understand.”

”Good.” Chapman said pleasantly, ”Now, my first question for you is a little out of order, but I have to admit that I'm very curious of your answer.”

”Okay.”

The man nodded, ”The alien who you fought a month ago, the one who called itself Desak, when he arrived he addressed you by a different name. He called you, Celestial. What does that mean?”

”Oh that? Well uh, Celestial is the name of a race of ancient intergalactic beings that are capable of manipulating the galaxy itself. So, essentially, space gods.” Naruto answered in a blank easy-going tone.

The room grew quiet at that.

Eventually, Chapman finally spoke again, ”…I see.”

Everyone seemed to look at Naruto in a new light, though if that were good or bad remained to be seen.

Norris decided to speak for the still stunned Chapman, ”Let's get to the ironing out of your history here.”

”Right. What do you want to know, exactly?” The ninja asked.

”The timeline of your arrival here is still unclear.” Chapman began, finally gathering himself, ”SHIELD records show that you landed on Earth at 2:23 p.m. on April 3rd, 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal. You were recovered by Kathmandu paramedics at 3:09 p.m. and then immediately taken into emergency care. The doctors who worked on you claimed that your body seemed to be healing itself at an impossible rate. The next day, SHIELD Agents were sent to investigate the phenomenon but failed to recover you, the hospital reporting that you'd gone missing the night before. Then, suddenly, you appear in Tonsberg, Norway on July 14th. That's over three months of undocumented time, Mr. Uzumaki.”

”Where were you in that time?” Ross asked.

”I was taken in by a monk and her disciples. They helped heal me, taught me your languages and history, and showed me where I needed to go to get home.” Naruto answered carefully.

”And where are these monks now?” Chapman asked.

Naruto shrugged, ”Don't know.”

Norris looked at the man skeptically, ”You haven't kept in contact with them in the seven-”

”Four.”

”-years you've been here? I find that hard to believe.” Norris finished.

Naruto turned his attention onto the man, driving a hard stare his way, ”I don't really care what you believe. They don't matter. They don't need to be disturbed any more than they have. That's all there is to it.”

”Let's move on.” Chapman insisted in an attempt to diffuse the situation. Looking back at his binder he said, ”After you met up and allied yourself with SHIELD, it's fairly easy to follow where you were and what you were doing. One specific moment happened on December 11th, 2011. On this date, you decided to intervene in the revolution going on in Symkaria, engaging with revolutionists stationed in Anian and one of their bases situated a mile outside the city. You also assassinated seven members of their government, all of whom were responsible for the revolution in the first place. Then, after all of that, you attacked an AIM facility where you killed several of the people working there. In all, your death toll for that day amounted to 239.”

”Is there a question in there?” Tony asked.

”Were you aware that the United States had invested interests in the Symkarian Revolution? Specifically, the revolutionary's side?” Ross asked.

Naruto shook his head, ”I was not.”

”Were you aware that by thwarting the revolutionists, you upturned several years worth of military planning? That you upset a carefully laid power grab that would've given us an unprecedented strategic advantage in that area?” Ross continued, ”So, why did you feel the need to circumvent the United States government?”

The blonde sat in thought for a moment, taking in Ross's rapid fire questions before answering.

”I wasn't ruining your plans.” Naruto said softly, ”I wasn't making a move against you, or Symkaria, or the revolutionists. I wasn't making a power grab or moving pieces around a chess board. I wasn't thwarting. I was saving a little boy from a situation I put him in. Everyone I killed, everyone I hurt, that happened because they either got in my way, or were responsible for their own misery. If I stepped on your toes, I didn't mean to. I was just putting people down that deserved to sit in the dirt.”

Ross looked Naruto over, ”But to do so and not even ask for clearance, or explain yourself-”

Naruto laughed. As everyone looked at him with either confusion or indignation, he laughed some more.

”You seem to think I have an obligation to explain myself to you. You seem to think I work for you, or that you're above me. I can tell just from how you talk to me. And it's not that your arrogant. No, no you honest to Sage believe that you deserve to have some kind of command over me.” Naruto began, looking at each of the men sitting across from him as he spoke, ”You rule over a chunk of this planet. Your flag doesn't cover every edge of the map, no matter how much you wish or think it does. If you did, if your borders really did branch out over the entire planet like Xandar or Hala, then I'd understand why you think you could tell me what to do. I'd actually be more receptive to the idea. After all, this planet took me in in my time of need and helped me get on my feet. I'll always love Earth because of that. But you don't have any kind of pull on me. I didn't land in your country and get adopted by some farmers from Kansas. I landed in Asia and I got help from a super spy agency whose allegiance was to the entire planet, not a single country. My only connection to your country is that most of my friends are from here. That's it.”

Everyone looked at him in stunned silence.

Ross was the first to get over the blonde's monologue.

”Perhaps…perhaps we should move on.” He said.

”Right.” Naruto said, ”Let's move on to the real reason I'm here.”

Realizing he had the floor, the blonde continued, ”Tony's told me that you don't want me to step on your toes anymore, and you don't want me to step on yours.”

”Yes.” Director Norris admitted, ”I think, going off what you've said today, you'd rather keep to yourself but still be allowed relative freedom from government control, am I correct?”

”Yes.” Naruto answered.

”Sadly.” Ross started, ”That kind of freedom isn't something that can happen. You are an alien here. A guest who is running his welcome thin. You kill indiscriminately, and if not that you beat them within an inch of their life, you destroy with your wanton abilities and accept zero responsibility and use our country like a rest stop whenever you want to take a break from breaking the countless laws we've let slide due to your relationship with both SHIELD and the Avengers. However, SHIELD has disbanded, and you've declined any allegiance to the Avengers on numerous occasions. That leaves you in the wind. That's simply not something we can allow.”

Chapman decided to intervene, ”You have to understand our perspective. You are simply not someone we can allow to roam freely with zero supervision. Your abilities make you perfectly inclined to decimate everything that makes this world run. Political power, military, economy. You can't ask us not to trust you when all that keeps you from ruining the world is your mood.”

”Now hold on a second.” Steve argued, ”Naruto would never set out to destroy America-”

”How can you promise that?” Ross demanded, eyeing the three men across from him, ”How can any of you promise us that? No one can predict the future. Right now, he's a neutral party. Two, three years from now we could be on opposite sides. And I don't like our odds. That's why we called this meeting. To try and set ground rules in place. To try and reach a mutual understanding. An agreement.”

”And how exactly do you propose we reach an understanding?” Naruto asked.

Ross gave Naruto a careful look, ”I understand you're forming a team. Why?”

Naruto sat there, his arms crossed over his chest. Finally, he looked to Chapman as he said, ”You were probably going to ask about the four years I was gone, right?”

The older man blinked, ”Yes, I was.”

”The reason I left was because during the Incident in New York, I managed to talk to the guy responsible.” Naruto admitted.

Chapman nodded in understanding, ”Loki-”

”No.” Naruto corrected, ”The man who sent Loki. His name is Thanos. Short version is that his mission in life is to find six ancient objects called the Infinity Stones. The reason he had Loki invade Earth is because the Tesseract being studied by SHIELD was in fact one of the Infinity Stones, the Space Stone to be exact. I used that Stone to get back to my home. After I did that, I travelled around space looking for clues about the other Stones. I managed to find one more before coming back here to fight Desak. It was in space that I learned that Loki's scepter held an Infinity Stone.”

”Which is the reason for the raid.” Norris deduced.

The shinobi nodded, ”I now have three of the six. I'm forming a team to help me find and protect the others from Thanos.”

”What happens if Thanos were to get all six of these Stones?” Chapman asked.

”I don't know, that's what scares me. He could literally do anything with them.” Naruto responded quietly.

”Where are you keeping the other stones?” Chapman wondered.

”They're in a safe place. No one can get to them but me.”

Ross scoffed, ”How can you be sure that-”

”Trust me. It's literally impossible or anyone but me to get to them. I'm the last of my people, there isn't anyone else that would know how.” Naruto clarified.

The Secretary of State raised an eyebrow, ”You're the last of your kind?”

”Yes.”

This seemed to ease Ross's mind a little bit, knowing there weren't any more people like that out there, ”I see.”

Coughing into his hand, Tony asked, ”So, why do you care that Naruto's forming a team?”

Ross straightened at that, ”I have a proposition. You need official representation from Earth to make your life here a little smoother. If I know we have someone we trust with you, then I won't feel inclined to continuously hound you on your many, many mishaps. They'll be inclined to inform me of them as they're happening which gives us time to react, along with giving us a direct line to you.”

”So, your spy.” Naruto simplified.

”If you'd like to put it that way, then yes.” Ross yielded.

Steve raised a curious eyebrow, ”It's a little odd you'd be so forward about wanting to plant a spy in Naruto's ranks.”

Ross gave a placating smile, ”I've been warned not to try and put one over on this man several times. I pride myself in being able to learn from mine or other's mistakes.”

”Who did you have in mind?” Steve asked.

It was then that Agent Drew stood up from her seat, ”That would be me, Captain.”

”I'm sure you're aware of her abilities, Captain Rogers. You too, Mr. Uzumaki.” Norris said, getting a nod from Steve and Naruto.

”Yeah well, I'm not.” Tony said, ”Mind filling me in?”

”Agent Jessica Drew has been gifted with several abilities due to…complications with her birth.” Norris explained, ”Enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, agility and senses, she also highly resistant to poison, toxins and radiation. Her hands and feet are capable of secreting a fluid that allows her to cling to solid surfaces. Along with all of that, her body produces an incredible amount of bio-energy, allowing to discharge it from her body. On top of all of these incredible gifts, she is an adept hand to hand combatant and weapons expert, as most SHIELD Agents are. She is our top field-agent.”

Throughout the entire run down of her abilities, Naruto and Jessica stared each other down. When the room went quiet, the ninja realized they were waiting on him to reply.

Eyeing her again he asked, ”What do you think of all this?”

Jessica straightened her posture as she answered, ”I think you need a buffer between you and the government of this country. I can act as your buffer-”

”Fine, I except.” Naruto declared.

”Wait, Naruto-”

Steve was interrupted as Naruto said, ”But here are my rules. I can come and go from this planet as much as I please. I don't have to tell you where I'm going or for how long. Second, Infinity Watch is my team. We don't work for you, or Earth, or the Avengers. Third, if I ever catch a whiff of you trying to use me or my team to advance you and your county's goals, we're done. Fourth, she can tell you what I'm doing, she can tell me if you don't approve, and she can report to you if I do something she or you don't like, hell she can try and arrest me if she thinks she can, but she's a part of my team now. She doesn't do missions for you, she only does them for me. And by her, I mean only her. I don't want my team to be the new hangout for supped up government agents. And fifth, anyone I choose to be on my team is under my protection. That means people like Owen Reece and Jennifer Walters aren't yours to watch or worry about. They're mine.”

”They've joined your team?” Chapman asked, writing their names down.

That question made Naruto falter for a moment as he said, ”Well…I'm scouting them. It's a process.”

”Are there any more rules you'd like to make?” Ross asked, everyone in the room seeing his frustration barely held in.

”None that I can think of right now, but I'm sure I'll think of something.” The ninja answered.

”We'll have to go over this more, but we'll get back to you when we've come to an agreement. And, when we've come up with more rules of our own.” Ross informed, ”We'll send Agent Drew your way when we do.”

Naruto looked around as everyone around him seemed to relax, the thick air that hung in the room lifting slightly as they all got up from their chairs, ”Is that it?” He wondered.

Tony patted him on the back, ”Yup. Good job kid, you got a little less angry then I thought you would.”

”Thanks?”

-x-

”Shall I call for him?”

Sitting over a vast cliff side, an elderly voice broke out passed the sounds of the vicious waves crashing against the cliff wall, ”Yes, it is time. I cannot postpone it any longer, I think.”

The younger, feminine voice spoke back softly, ”I know that this is difficult for you.”

”I have made many, many difficult decisions when it comes to my children…you'd think I wouldn't find it so hard to make another. Especially considering the circumstances.” The elder spoke, his voice strong yet deeply broken.

”This must be done, my king.”

”I know…bring him to me.”

”At once.”

-x-

”So…explain to me why you're willingly allowing a spy onto your team?”

Naruto sighed at Clint's question, leaning up against a table as the two waited on Bruce and Tony's arrival. Steve had decided to stay behind in DC. Though he was curious when Tony asked him to say hello to Agent Carter for him, he decided not to ask after seeing Steve's bashful reaction.

Folding his arms across his chest, he answered, ”Because, I needed to make the compromise. It was either agree to let her onto my team knowingly and control the situation or tell them to fuck off knowing they'd do something drastic in retaliation. I know I can handle any of those situations, but the last one is the more annoying of the two.”

”But she's gonna be recording your entire team's strengths and weaknesses, how to use and beat them and you. She's gonna be writing down every law you break and every person you fuck over. She'll have a laundry list on you a mile wide.” Clint reason, ”Doesn't that bother you?”

The shinobi laughed, ”Don't worry, I'll handle all of that.”

”If you say so.” The archer relented, ”Hey uh, I was told to ask you if you wanted to come over for dinner. The misses is making that thing you like.”

Naruto's entire attention was on Clint, ”Ramen?”

”What? No, meatloaf. How old are you?” Clint demanded.

”I like meatloaf?” The blonde asked.

”She made it for you the last time you were over, you wouldn't shut up about how amazing it was. You literally made her week.” Clint tried to remind him, ”Look, as long as you give a repeat performance I don't give a shit if you remember or not.”

Laughing, Naruto complied, ”Sure, I'll come over. We can carpool to your place.”

”You have a car?” Barton asked.

”Didn't I tell you about my spaceship?”

”…you're what?”

”My spaceship. She's called the Kushina.” Naruto detailed.

Clint stared at Naruto for several seconds before replying, ”Oh. Okay.”

As the conversation ended there, Tony and Bruce walked into the room. Tony had taken off his jacket and tie, the first few buttons of his shirt unbuttoned to offer some breathing room. Bruce, sporting a lab jacket, walked up to the two, giving Clint a smile and Naruto a nod.

”What's this I hear about a spaceship?” Bruce asked curiously.

”That I have one.” Naruto elaborated, ”I can take you both out for a spin if you want.”

”Definitely gonna have to put a book mark on that one.” Tony said enthusiastically, ”I think we're gonna be busy looking at this gem for the next couple weeks.”

”First, they're called Infinity Stones. Second, we agreed to one week.” Naruto corrected with a light glare, ”And I'm gonna have a clone on standby to come and pick it up and drop it off with the others, so don't think about trying to bargain for any spare time.”

”Right, right my bad.” Tony waved off, looking the blonde over, ”Where is the Stone anyway?”

”Right over here.” Banner answered, motioning towards the table in the lab. On the table sat the scepter and the jewel, the glowing rock situated onto a strange looking stand.

”Wow.” Tony gasped.

Motioning towards the jewel, Naruto said, ”This is the Mind Stone. Its power lies in the mind. It is literal intelligence. In its diluted state within the scepter's jewel, it can control the mind and make an average-joe as smart as you or Bruce.” he explained to Tony, ”If I were to take it out of the jewel, if you were to touch it, it would drive you insane from the overload. You'd probably learn the meaning of the universe, but you'd be rendered catatonic. That's why I left the Stone inside, so you can analyze it without having to waste time coming up with a way to contain it.”

”This…really is incredible.” Bruce observed, walking closer to the table and leaning in to give it a more scrutinizing look, ”How will you be able to contain it when you take it out?”

Naruto smiled at Banner as he stared at the Mind Stone, his mind racing a million miles a minute, ”The energy you see me use lets me hold and partially control the Stones. I've managed to learn how to hold off their power, but other than that my control of them is pretty shitty. That's one of the reasons I don't like to use them.”

”Makes sense.” Bruce mumbled, most of his attention on the Mind Stone now.

”I can't believe you have two more of these just lying around somewhere.” Admitted Clint as he observed the Stone from a distance. Out of the three Avengers present, he had the most experience with it, and it was safe to say he didn't want to interact with it anymore then he had to.

Deciding to ignore Clint's comment, Naruto created a Shadow Clone before handing it off.

Looking back at Tony, he asked, ”What're you planning to do with this again?”

”I just want to see what makes it tick.” Tony admitted freely, ”If what you say about it is true then it could prove to be a boon for several projects I've got in storage, one in particular coming to mind.”

”Nothing nefarious I hope.” Naruto said half-heartedly.

Tony made an offended face, ”Look at who you're talking to. Have I ever done anything nefarious? Underhanded? Sure. Questionable? All the time. But nefarious? Come on.”

”Alright kid, let's go.” Clint said, getting bored with the conversation.

”Right.” Naruto answered, putting his hands in his pockets as he followed after the archer.

”You guys going out on a date?” Tony teased, ”Don't stay out too late you two.”

”Why don't you go join your Science-Bro in looking at the rock.” Clint shouted back in annoyance.

Bruce looked up from observing the Stone, ”…do people actually call us that?” He asked Tony, causing Naruto to laugh as he and Clint left the room.

-x-

”Wow. Just…wow.”