Chapter Text
Naruto stared Mizuki with confusion and hurt.
"You are the Nine-tailed fox!" Mizuki raved, "the demon that destroyed the village and killed Iruka's parents is inside your body!"
All that time, the village hated him because…
"Don't listen to him Naruto!" Iruka pleaded, "you aren't the fox!"
Naruto didn't have time to respond, he was pulled from his position on the ground, vanishing before everyone's eyes.
…….
Tony cleared his throat. He looked around the table to each member of the Avengers. Hawkeye was fingering his now, Wanda sat on Vision's lap, Widow only stared forward in concentration, and Sam took notes. The only ones not present were Thor and Bucky.
Thor was off building New Asgard somewhere in Norway with Loki and the rest of the refugees. And Bucky was off on a solo mission to another mad science facility. Which left the rest to Tony, who was busy studying the rip in the universe Thanos had caused, with Strange's help.
"You all know your parts, " said Tony closing the hologram, " go do your thing, "
He was about to leave when Steve spoke.
"Aren't you coming with us?"
Tony raised a brow, it was recon mission at an AIM facility, Iron man wasn't needed. Rogers knew that, but Tony guessed the guy wanted to repair what was left of their tenuous friendship. Which was one good thing caused by Thanos. It not only proved Tony correct, it also gave the Avengers an excuse to make amends. But Tony needed more time, and he thanked whoever was listening that no major threat had arisen since Thanos. Iron Man could rest a bit. Not only from crime but from team cap. He just couldn't take Steve acting like everything was normal.
"Nah, no need for the big guns cap. I would draw too much attention. Besides you know I have to look at the rip with the good doctor, " Tony, having learned from previous mistakes, told the former rogues about the broccoli boy incident. Tony had enough secrets to last a lifetime.
Tony was about to leave when yet another figure appeared, just like that Broccoli kid. He was blonde, and wore an atrocious orange Jumpsuit.
"I take it we should call your boyfriend?" Hawkeye deadpanned.
"Strange isn't my-look just go on your mission. Strange and I will take care of it, "
"Hey who the hell are you?!" the blonde shouted.
…………..
The Hokage ordered a village wide search party. This could end up endangering the village. How could Naruto just vanish like that? Who had done it?
Hiruzen, also worried for the child himself. He hoped the kid was safe.
"I'm getting too old for this, " sighed the old man.
……………
"We should be asking you that, " Tony countered.
"Are you with Mizuki? Where's Iruka sensei!" Naruto stood, getting his kunai ready.
Steve walked over and put a calming hand on the boy, "Calm down kiddo. We don't know who any of those people are, let's all just talk, Okay?"
Naruto paused, eyeing the people in the room. They were weird, but unlike everyone who he had met, they didn't look at him with those cold eyes. They didn't dismiss his existence. Naruto disregarded all his training(like he always did) and decided to trust these people. They seemed genuine.
Tony, was grateful for Steve's level head. Blondie seemed like a hot head.
"Start with your name, age and where you're from and we'll go from there, " Tony encouraged.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, 12 years old and Ninja in training. I'm from Konohagakure, the hidden. Leaf Village, "
"You seem too load to be a ninja, " Sam chuckled.
Naruto glared, "So what?!"
"Easy kid, " Clint soothed, "he was just joking, "
Naruto still glared, crossing his arms, "Now you have to tell me who you are, "
"Right, " Tony started, "I'll do it. I'm Tony Stark, that guy is Steve Rogers, the one with the bow is Clint Barton, the silent ones are Natasha Romanoff and Wanda Maximoff, the robot is Vision, and the bird is Sam Wilson. We are part of peacekeeping group called the Avengers. And you are from another dimension due to one of our villains causing havoc. Questions?" Tony spoke with fast succession. Not taking a single breath.
"Can you get me home?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, " Steve said.
Naruto then thought about what he had just discovered. His life back in the village, and going home didn't seem all that appealing. All he had was Iruka, and even then he couldn't be sure if the man hated him. Being Hokage was his dream. It still was. But...he just didn't feel all that enthusiastic about it anymore. He needed to think. His whole life had been turned into an even bigger nightmare. And these people weren't going to reject him, he could see it in their eyes.
"Can I stay here a while?"
"Why?" Tony asked, studying the kid. He looked like he was running from something, which was oh so familiar to the man of iron. He was also too guarded for regular 12 year old.
"I just want to!" snapped Naruto.
Tony sighed, "Sure squirt, "
"Tony-" Steve began, but Hwakeye being the perceptive agent he was put a hand on the captain's shoulder. Having kids gave him experience, and Tony was sure that Clint had seen the same thing he had.
"Let's go, we have a mission cap, " said Natasha.
Team Cap left. Tony exhaled and let his shoulders sag, he needed Peter's help.
……….
Peter was in the middle of stopping a burglary when Tony beeped.
"Mr. Stark is calling, " Karen said, as Peter webbed the crooks into a cocoon.
Peter grinned and answered the call, "Hey Mr. Stark!"
"Kid I'm gonna need you back in the compound, we have a guest, "
There wasn't anything else to be said. When Tony called Peter would follow. Just as simple as that.
,.......
"Why can't he just let it go?" Steve sighed, sitting next to Natasha who was piloting Quinjet.
The rest of the crew decided to get some shut eye before the recon.
"You did smash your shield on him Steve, " Natasha said, tone frigid, "I betrayed him. Everyone left. I personally wouldn't have brought us back at all, "
He supposed she had a point. It wasn't fair for him to blame Tony of holding on to the past when that was all he did during their Civil War. He knew he should have acted better, Tony was emotionally compromised. Of course he'd get mad and punch the person who killed his parents. Brainwashed or not. Yet Steve didn't regret trying to help Bucky. He just regretted the aftermath.