Note: School is over so expect updates for some of my already existing stories as well as new uploads in the coming weeks. It feels so good to write a fight scene again – I might be a little bit rusty since I haven't written one in a few months so bear with me as I get warmed up. Some feedback on my fight scenes would be great. If this chapter seems lacking in some fashion please take into account lack of sleep due to finals.

Warning: This chapter and subsequent story is to be rated accordingly for language, suggestive themes, violence, and potential gore. If at some point I do decide to incorporate lemons they shall likely be in their own separate story instead in order to not hinder the viewing pleasure of others, or I will give fair warning to their inclusion in a chapter, the romance and subsequent relationships though will still remain in the story…

Official Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, One Punch Man or any referenced or related works in that may appear in this story. If there ever is an OC inclusion in this or any of my stories, the resemblance of a name and/or physical appearance to anyone living or deceased is completely coincidental. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The right of any pictures or art I will ever use go to their respective owners, if said artist would like the picture removed from my profile or story, for that is where it would most likely be, please say so instead of jumping to conclusions of infringement. No copyright infringement is intended.

The cover image used for this story is an edited version of an image that belongs to the deviantart artist hmongt titled Genos-Chan. I don't intend to take credit for said artist's artwork and my sole handiwork on the image was the slight editing I did on it. I have sent the artist a message asking for their permission to use the image, but have yet to hear back from them on the matter. Pending their reply the image will either be replaced or kept up. I make no profit from this story.

Chapter I

Hero

Naruto looked on with wide bewildered eyes as he observed an entire city vanish in an instant from the face of the earth. Flame and mortar reigning supreme in this hellish landscape as the skies above parted from the force of the attack – the land itself giving way to such might.

Turning his frightful eyes towards the source of the attack they settled themselves upon the back of this most monstrous of perpetrators.

The monster being none other than a petite woman that was wearing a formfitting black dress with long sleeves and four high-cut leg slits, the outfit being finished by simple yet elegant looking low-heeled black shoes. From his current angle he was unable to see her face as all he could gaze upon was her back and the emerald green hair she sported which curled up at the ends.

The petite female currently being outlined by a slowly diminishing emerald green glow, her outstretched hand turned towards the now ruined city. The female, releasing a long shuddering breath she had not known she had been holding, lowered her arm back to her side as the green outline that had enveloped her form finally faded. Her shoulders visibly slumping as the weight of her actions today seemed to fall atop them.

Casting her head down towards the ground for a moment, she contemplated her actions, her thoughts wandering on the number of people whose lives she had just ended without a single thought – without a single word.

She truly was a monster…

Breaking her out of her self-destructive thoughts a cry rang out – pitiful and heart-wrenching it brought her back to the true victim of this most grand of tragedies. Turning her head to regard the little boy that she had just killed 1.7 million people for, she gazed upon his dirty tear streaked face as he mourned the loss of the only place he had ever known – of the only people he had ever seen...

His cries ringing out across the newly formed valley and echoing in this vast empty expanse. Like the most mournful of melodies she couldn't help finding herself drawn to it – captivated by this child whose tragic past she had just ended. She having brought this dark chapter of the boy's life to a close singlehandedly.

As Naruto watched the monster turn towards him his cries turned to nothing more than mere whimpers of discontent as they died in his throat – as he saw those haunting emerald eyes turn to regard him.

Cowering as the woman approached him, he was overcome by an overwhelming sense of fear that was almost instinctual in nature. This woman that had extinguished so many lives in an instant had now set her gaze upon him. Would his flame too be quenched by her indomitable will? His meager and short existence brought to an end just as so many others had perished on this day?

No…

Tatsumaki stopped short for a second as she observed the change in demeanor in the previously cowering boy. His cries falling silent as his sapphire blue eyes turned to regard her with not fear, but the ferocity of a cornered animal – of someone pushed to the edge of desperation after a series of events beyond their control had led them to such a position that they could no longer differentiate the good from the bad, the hero from the villain. The numerous events that had transpired over the course of this day having been too much for the young boy to handle.

A spark seemed to light itself deep within the boy's eyes as a will not his own took ahold of his body – as instinct won over fear. As his desire to survive outweighed all human limitations with which he may have been inhibited by.

"Ahhhhhh!" he cried out as thousands of thick roots burst from his back and embedded themselves into the earth, they branching out rapidly. Trees bursting from the ground and climbing to unimaginable heights as greenery and life blossomed all around him. Slowly his shimmering blonde hair seemed to lose its vibrancy as it faded to an ethereal white – his eyes themselves burning with a ferocity that was almost maddening in its intensity.

Tatsumaki looked surprised at the sudden display before her eyes narrowed as she observed the roots which had previously been spreading rapidly in all directions converge on her position. Looking back at the boy however, her eyes softened once more as she saw the tears streaming down his cheeks as he regarded her with those same fearful blue orbs of his.

He was so much like her that it frightened her, she needed to get him under control before he truly lost all form of reasoning to his instincts. His abilities were much too unstable to risk him losing control of his emotions to such a degree, she could only hope that he managed to gain a better control over his abilities with time.

As the thousands of roots tunneled their way towards her position, her eyes became alight with power – chunks of earth being ripped from the earth as they hovered around her. Her hair seeming to upturn slightly as some invisible force encompassed her form, it causing the tail ends of her dress to billow behind her.

He would live…

Suddenly hundreds of roots burst from the ground as they merged into a singular massive construct, it taking the appearance of a massive wooden dragon that was covered in greenery, seemingly overflowing with life. Where it trailed over life blossomed, yet where it headed only certain destruction could follow. Writhing towards her like some sky-bound serpent as vines enveloped its form, its cavernous maw parted open in a silent roar as it threatened to devour her and much of the surrounding landscape whole.

As it descended upon her with all the might of a falling star – she simply raised a single arm towards it as that same emerald green outline from before encompassed her just before the serpentine manifestation of life crashed into her. The nature construct tearing itself apart as it impacted her barrier, revealing a red core where its head had previously been. Her hair billowing back as the massive juggernaut of nature collided against her with the full force of nature itself at it's heels.

In an instant the impact caused the land behind her to be completely overturned for miles as the landscape was destroyed from the massive force she had just halted in its tracks. It having caused her to actually take a step back in surprise as she had underestimated how powerful the attack truly was. She had simply taken into account it base traits rather than the being that had created it, or the strange energy residing within it. What she had thought would perhaps be an attack that was in the Demon range actually bordering dangerously close to Dragon. Perhaps she should have taken its base appearance as a clue…

The dragon continued to deconstruct itself as she pushed it back along with the red core that resided within it.

"No" the boy whispered fearfully as he saw his attack be halted so effortlessly "Nooo!" Naruto roared as numerous vines encompassed the red orb as it pulsed with life and reconstructed the dragon. The action surprising Tatsumaki as she deftly avoided the incoming attack – the dragon barreling past her at high velocity as it cut through the air at twice the speed from before.

Tatsumaki then observed as from the land behind the boy, which had seemingly been terraformed into a lush forest, burst forth dozens of more dragons identical to the first one. Those each branching off into numerous smaller ones as thousands of them rained down upon her from above. The original dragon curving upwards as it too broke off into dozens of identical smaller dragons. Casting a quick glance at the boy she saw that his arms were both now rooted to the ground and his hair was fully snow-white as his head hung weakly whilst his eyes regarded her with abject fear. She needed to stop this, if this continued any longer the boy was going to kill himself.

It was then that she started to take the situation seriously, casting her hands to the sky she gestured towards the thousands of incoming projectiles as they were all enveloped in a greenish glow and were halted mid-air. Clenching her hands into fists she observed as each of the dragon heads exploded violently – showering the surrounding area in foliage just as each of the dragon's long elongated bodies withered and died.

Her enhanced senses picking up something tunneling underground Tatsumaki quickly used her powers to blast upwards into the air just as thousands of tentacle-like roots burst from the ground trailing after her. She twisting out of the way of their grasp as she employed her telekinetic abilities to enable her to take flight and keep out of reach of the living forest that now surrounded Naruto.

Sensing Naruto's life force waning and feeling her heart cry out for the child she did something that in retrospect she would consider foolish, if not downright insane. She cutting off her ability to take flight and casting herself into the living forest that had taken root down below.

Her sister who had been looking on from afar from a protective shielding she had formed crying out in fear at Tatsumaki's seemingly suicidal move. The young girl observing her big sister plummet into the depths of the monstrous forest that seemed to continuously be spreading upwards and outwards as it threatened to consume all beneath its massive canopy.

Instantly hundreds of thorned vines threatened to pull her into their deathly embrace, the forest itself attempting to hinder her progress as it impeded her path. Tatsumaki in turn using her powers to maneuver around each and every one of them as she shredded the one's that got too close, whilst clearing a path toward the quickly fading boy. Finding the action growing incredibly tedious to do as she approached the origin of this forest, she used her powers to raise two great slabs of earth on either side of her – cutting off the majority of the forest from her path as she broke it off into sections.

What she didn't expect was for the forest to use this to its advantage as the path was instantly flooded by a wave of thorned vines that rapidly cascaded towards her. Growing tired of these obstacles and knowing that she only had to reach the boy to end this she used her powers to take her to her destination rather than work her way there.

Shooting forwards at high-velocity she blasted straight through the garden of thorns all the way towards her "little prince". The thorns being shredded by the action as she reached the boy in a mere instant. Her clothes in tatters and numerous small cuts littering her skin – a few thorned vines still clinging lifelessly to her form.

Looking down upon the young boy she found numerous flowers around him while strange vine-like veins visibly crawled under his skin. Looking into his fearful currently golden eyes as he channeled the strange energy within him she finally understood, to this boy who was fully ignorant of the world – she was death. A being capable of ending life but with a wave of her hand. She was a monster… but in his mind so was he.

As Tatsumaki bent down the boy instantly clenched his eyes shut fearfully whilst the forestry around them was kept at bay by her overwhelming might – any foliage that came too close being shredded instantly.

The boy was prepared for many things, death being foremost amongst them, however he was fully unprepared for what came next.

"It's okay"

Instantly the forest fell silent – the rustling and digging giving way to silence as the massive dome of foliage that now surrounded them went still in their efforts to break through her barrier.

Tenderly she had pulled the boy into an embrace, she resting his head gently against her shoulder whilst a soft smile found its way to her face. The boy wide-eyed at the unfamiliar action and unable to resist as his arms were still fully rooted to the ground. It ultimately bringing him back to his senses as his hair bled back to its brilliant gold and his eyes shifted back to their ocean blue.

"No one's going to hurt you ever again"

Uprooting his arms from the now rich soil beneath them he revealed the limbs to be covered in thick roots and bark. Not knowing how to respond to the action he made to wrap his arms around her – just as a wicked grin appeared on his face and his eyes dilated back into golden pupils, his hands shifting into massive wicked looking claws behind her back.

However as he made to dismember the woman and truly lose himself to that animalistic part of him her voice called out to him once more, pulling him from the depths of his own madness with a gentle utterance which seemed to cause a lifetime's worth of loneliness to come crashing down upon him. A mother, a father, a brother, a friend – the family and companionship he lacked. Guidance, friendship, dreams, understanding, love – all the things he had craved for since as far back as he could remember.

"I'm here for you"

Slowly his claws retracted as the skin around his arms lost its greenish hue, the vines around said limbs going back under his skin before fading completely as he wrapped his arms around the older teen – tears brimming at the corners of his eyes blurring his vision.

"Let it out" she whispered softly, a small smile on her face – she used to playing the motherly role for her little sister.

"Waaahh!" Naruto cried as he clung to the older teen's black dress and let out a lifetime's worth of tears as Tatsumaki looked on softly at the small boy in her arms.

Yes, so much like her when she was his age – with just a dash of Fubaki's clinginess for good measure. He was like the little brother she never had, another lost soul persecuted due to the prejudiced and superstitious nature of man.

Monsters had feelings too…

They had families…

Dreams…

Some even wore human skin like her and her sister, as no matter what they looked like or did those that were different would always be regaled as freakish – as monstrous. Monsters like them needed to stick together.

Feeling the forest around them begin to grow restless she knew that they needed to leave soon. Looking back at the young boy she saw him lift his head to regard her with shimmering blue eyes – large droplet like tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked at her with the wonder and awe only a child could possess.

Greedily taking in her face he devoured every detail hungrily as he committed every bit of her face to memory. Observing a small droplet of blood trail down from a cut on her brow all the way to her cheek, he felt a pang of guilt course through him.

That was his doing…

He had hurt her – this was all his fault. If he had never met her… if he had never led her back to the city on that day, none of this would have happened.

He wanted to say he was sorry, but he simply had not the words to communicate such a sentiment. He never having learned how to properly speak.

Reaching up with a trembling hand he delicately cupped her cheek directly over where the droplet of blood laid. The action causing the older teen to tilt her head cutely to the side in confusion.

However all questions in her mind were banished as a euphoric sensation coursed through her – crawling over her skin and licking at her with tongues of fire. It was so overwhelming it caused her mind to blank and for her to close her eyes as it enveloped her – consumed her. It was indescribable.

Suddenly her wounds, numerous yet small as they may have been, healed over as she was invigorated once more.

Opening her eyes she observed that whatever the boy was doing had caused him to take on a green outline not much unlike her own as hundreds of flowers blossomed around them.

At this point the forest had reached a tumult as it wildly shifted around them, threatening to consume them both in the middle of this sea of life. Yet they were the eye, the epicenter of this storm that raged as much within their hearts as it did their surroundings.

The boy retracting his now bloodstained hand looked at it sadly for a second as he regarded it with an expression that was out of place on one so young. Why was it that today he felt that he lost more than his home? Than his people?

Suddenly his eyes widened as he felt a pair of lips gently press themselves upon his forehead causing him to go stiff at the alien sensation. Tatsumaki pulling back was rewarded by the wide eyes of the boy as he looked at her smiling face confusedly.

"Thank you" she said gratefully, just as she herself went wide-eyed as the boy jumped straight into her arms and pulled her right back into a hug. The action causing her to stagger slightly backwards in surprise.

Smiling at him as she patted his head, she looked around to see the entire forest seemingly attempting to break through her barrier – even the portion of it that was underground being assaulted by hundreds of roots as they attempted to break into their little garden.

Naruto tearing himself away from her observed the dilemma they now found themselves in because of his fear. The forest wanted him back, with him it could continue to grow – to spread.

Digging his nails into his palm he willed himself to bleed – his blood mingling beautifully with that of the girl beside him – and allowed a single drop to fall upon the fertile soil upon which they stood. Tatsumaki regarding the action curiously – sure she could escape, but it would be difficult to do so with the boy in tow.

Feeling the ground rumble beneath her she braced herself as she held the boy more tightly in her arms. Suddenly blasting upwards they found themselves rapidly ascending through the forest as she kept the barrier firmly around them, causing them to tear through the surrounding foliage and blast straight through the forest's massive canopy. The two of them being atop what looked like a giant stem with a rapidly blooming red flower at the crown.

The forest seemed to grow more agitated at the action before it all suddenly exploded upwards as it coiled along the giant stem. Intent on not letting its prize get away, it shrunk its borders as the trees and plant life grew at an unprecedented rate as it made chase after them.

The flower reaching its peak finally bloomed fully and prompted Tatsumaki to blast off it farther into the sky with the boy in hand as a greenish outline enveloped her once more. Holding onto Naruto with one arm she looked down at the monstrous mass of life that was climbing upwards towards them as she regarded it coldly.

Quickly leveling her free hand towards it she channeled a massive amount of power into her attack before she released it. The attack actually causing waves of green energy to burst free from her hand from how much she was channeling at the moment – instantly the entire forest seemed to buckle under some unseen pressure as the earth cracked.

"Disappear" she uttered coldly just as the entire forest fell apart and the ground exploded beneath it. The forest being fully consumed in the wake of her attack as it was crushed into nothingness and greedily devoured by giant avalanches of earth.

Meanwhile Naruto could only look at the woman in awe as he saw this happen before his very eyes. She could have ended this entire "fight" any moment she wanted to, yet she had willingly placed herself in harm's way and gotten injured just for him. Instantly his already massive respect for the woman grew even higher.

It was then that he decided at that very moment, as he gazed at her smiling face as she turned to regard him… his definition of a hero.

-X-

Several years later…

Naruto feeling someone interrupt his sleep blearily opened his eyes. He was having that dream again, the one with the green haired girl that had saved him all those years ago. The one that had inspired him to become a hero…

"Otouto, Naruto, Naru-chan, Naruto-kun" someone said as they repeatedly poked his cheek, this likely being the person that had woken him. Yet as annoying as the action was he really couldn't find it in himself to care, the bed just felt so damn good…

"Oi, wake up baldy" instantly Naruto's eyes shot open as a tick mark formed itself on his head as he turned to regard the person that had ruined his sleep so nonchalantly.

"Shut up! You're the baldy!" Naruto shouted back as he came face to face with someone that proved that his statement was in fact true. The man before him was very much bald and had a nonchalant bored expression on his face, yet Naruto could clearly make out a hint of mischief in his usually dull eyes.

The man had sharp features set firmly on a bored complexion and sported a thin, but well-built physique of average height and weight. This was none other than Naruto's big brother and half-assed role-model Saitama.

Said man then proceeding to poke Naruto's face once more without breaking eye-contact as he sunk his finger into Naruto's cheek.

"Would you quit it!?" Naruto shouted as he slapped the man's hand away, he noticing the tiniest of smirk's play across the man's face, "So what do you want, I was having a really good dream you know." Naruto said tiredly as he rested his head back down on his pillow, not really angry at the older male as he was used to his antics.

The man simply pulled out a flyer and held it out at eye-level for Naruto to see.

Saturday Only! Big Sale!

"So? Today's Monday," Naruto said confusedly as he looked at a calendar that was currently pinned to the wall with a thumbtack. Saturday having a red circle around it with a note to go to the sale. Sales were usually bi-weekly and tended to be what got them through the month more often than not.

The bald man simply pulled the flyer back for a second as he looked at it before he pointed to a small line of text off to the corner.

Squinting Naruto barely managed to see the small text;

Except seafood and assorted crustaceans which are to go on sale on Monday during the lunch hour special.

"Why those little cheats, try to pass a fast one on us will they?" Naruto said with a dangerous smile, turning to regard his brother he voiced his thoughts on the matter.

"Crab legs?"

"Crab legs" Saitama replied with a nod as they came to a decision on what they were going to do for the day.

Getting out of bed as his brother stood up Naruto quickly rolled up his futon and made to get breakfast ready while his brother sat himself in front of the T.V. to see if there was anything interesting on the morning news.

"What time is it?" Naruto asked as he got breakfast started for the two of them; it consisting of a bowl of white rice for each of them that he heated up from yesterday's dinner, along with some natto on the side – for texture. Two fried eggs with accompanying seasonings for each of them which were currently still sizzling on the frying pan at the moment. Finally he had some of his signature tea currently boiling off to the side, a toast for each of them, along with a banana to finish it off for a fairly well balanced meal.

"8:20" came the reply from the living room as Saitama scratched his belly uncaringly

"What the crap!? What happened to the alarm clock!?" Naruto shouted as he peeked his head out of the kitchen.

Saitama merely pointing towards a hole in the wall where he had punched said alarm clock through.

"It surprised me" Saitama replied simplistically

"What type of half-assed response is that!?" Naruto demanded

"I was having a really good dream" he added as if that explained everything

"Oh well if you were having a good dream then – Do you think I care you baka!" Naruto shouted as he threw a potato at Saitama's head, causing said vegetable to explode on contact with the man's dome.

Reaching up a finger Saitama scooped some up and licked it.

"These potatoes are mashed, yet oddly undercooked – you're letting your cooking slip Naruto." Saitama said as he looked at the blonde teen apathetically, causing Naruto to grow a tick mark on his head at that.

"I want that hole in the wall fixed" Naruto said seriously as he headed back into the kitchen. His tone booking no argument on the matter.

"Why don't you just use your powers to fix it?" Saitama whined as he threw himself on his futon.

"Because then you wouldn't learn your lesson now would you? I swear this building is more my handiwork than any contractor…" Naruto mumbled under his breath as he got back to cooking breakfast.

Hearing someone shouting from the T.V. as explosions rang out in the background Naruto knew that today was going to be a long day.

-X-

Naruto looked over himself in the mirror; he had fixed his hair, brushed his teeth, taken a quick morning shower, and eaten breakfast. There was now only one thing standing between him and a trip to the supermarket with Saitama…

"Where the hell is my cape?" Naruto asked as he looked towards where he normally had it along with his costume.

"In the wash" Saitama replied as he bit down on his slice of toast whilst reading through a manga while he waited. One reason that he was grateful of not having hair was that it cut down his morning prep-time by a few minutes.

He himself was wearing a costume consisting of a plain yellow jumpsuit with a short zipper at the collar and a belt. The costume being finished out by a red ensemble of boots, gloves and a white cape.

"What, but I thought we did the laundry yesterday?" Naruto asked in confusion

"No, we did the clothes yesterday – we still have the blankets left to do. Your cape should be in that pile." Saitama said uncaringly just as Naruto found it

"Eww, it's stained with blood," Naruto complained "Do you think we have enough time to wash it?" Naruto asked as he looked back at Saitama over his shoulder.

"Sure, but the bad guy might leave by then – I'll just go on ahead..." Saitama said as he made to leave

"No, wait! I'll just hand wash it, it'll take like a second!" Naruto begged

"Fine, but hurry up," Saitama said as he sat back down and continued to read, not really letting the fact that the longer he waited the more people would die phase him. "Make sure not to do it so fast that you tear it in half like last time."

A flurry of his hands, a bit of soap, some water, and a burst of flame later Naruto was ready.

"Heh-hee" Naruto grinned cockily as he stepped out of their joint bathroom "Look good don't I?"

Naruto was wearing a light-orange jumpsuit nearly identical to his brother's, it too having a short zipper at the collar and a belt. The costume was finished out by a blue ensemble of boots, gloves and a red cape that he and his brother tended to trade off depending on their mood. It was a fashion sin… just like his brother's costume.

It didn't go too well with his powers and skill set, but hell if he cared, it had been a gift and they needed the money for more important things. Maybe when they actually had some cash…

"Yeah, almost as good as me" Saitama answered with a small smirk, he not giving up the chance to tease his little brother when it presented itself.

"Whatever, let's get going – City A right?"

"Yep, then crab legs" Saitama replied as he adjusted his gloves

"Of course" Naruto agreed as he slung his cape over his shoulder

-X-

City A

"He looks weird – is that him?" Naruto asked

"Don't know, he looks evil enough though" Saitama replied as the two of them looked at the scene from atop of one of the large mountains of rubble in the area, they both being prone as they gazed at their prime suspect through a pair of binoculars.

Said suspect was a tall hairless being about the size of a large man, he having two rounded antennae on his head. The alien like creature had a very muscular body with its skin being an amethyst color that bordered on royal blue. However the most disturbing aspect of the villain to them was…

"He's naked, even if he's not the baddie we're looking for we would be doing society a favor by taking out an exhibitionist of his caliber." Naruto commented wryly as he put his binoculars away

"No, I'm pretty sure that he's the villain, our second naked one this week too – maybe it's in style…" Saitama commented thoughtfully

"Sure because it's all the rage among psychopathic villains to go bare out in public, because that's just sooooo intimidating." Naruto said sarcastically as he played with a large chunk of concrete by chucking it into the air while waiting for his brother to decide on what they were going to do. Sure the guy was a baddie, but all they had on him so far was that he was an exhibitionist as most of City A was already leveled.

"Ah, there's a little girl out there." Saitama remarked

"…well I guess some more inadequate men could feel intimidated by the difference in size – that is if these baddies actually had genitalia – wait what did you say?" Naruto asked as his head shot to the side – he completely forgetting about the chunk of concrete he was juggling as it crashed into Saitama's head and broke apart. Saitama himself not giving any inclination that he noticed – or cared about the accident.

"I said there's a little girl crying over there, big blue is heading towards her right now."

"Where is she?" Naruto demanded

"Over there," Saitama answered as he pointed off into the distance while still looking through the binoculars "She's wearing a jacket that spells out 'School Girl' and has her hair done up pig-tails."

"That's pretty damn cute, we need more cute little children to save and attractive females to rescue." Naruto commented idly as he stood up and dusted his cape

"I know those superhero comics and shounen manga play those up so much – that and epic fight scenes." Saitama replied as he too got up

"Damn manga's instilling false hope" Naruto agreed, just as a thought came to him – a large, evil, and very naked perverted monster was currently about to grab a cute little girl…

"Oh hell no!" Naruto exclaimed as he blasted towards the scene, the ground cratering behind him as he easily broke the sound-barrier without even really trying to. Saitama's cape billowing behind him for a second before he slowly turned towards where his brother had disappeared before following suit as the ground exploded behind him.

-X-

Just as the monster was about to grab the crying little girl and crush her in its massive grip did a streak of gold flash by just as he closed his fist, only to find… nothing.

Looking off to the side the monster spotted a blonde haired teen wearing a strange ensemble with an accompanying red cape billowing behind him. The girl from before looking at said teen curiously as she managed to get ahold of herself enough to register the situation she found herself in, as well as the monster that almost ended her – the revelation causing her to immediately cling closer to him out of fear.

The teen, being none other than Naruto immediately sensing her discontent flooded her senses with a calming sensation that soon enough had her knocked out – the last thing she would remember before she woke up being his sapphire blue eyes.

"Who are you?" the monster demanded as it narrowed its eyes as it regarded him

Turning to regard the monster after carefully placing the girl out of harm's way Naruto gave him a withering look.

"A guy that's missing a trip to the grocery store to talk to you, can we speed this along?"

"Such impudence, you know not who you are regarding with such disrespect. I was born from the constant stream of pollution with which you humans have suffused the earth. I am Vaccine Man!" the newly titled Vaccine Man shouted passionately as he gestured to himself. This being the monster that had destroyed most of City A and taken out two A-class heroes with little effort.

"The Earth is a living organism. You humans are nothing more than a disease-causing bacteria eating away at her life-force. In order to obliterate all humans and their pitiful civilization, the Earth has created me!" the monster shouted as he shifted into an even more monstrous form resembling a cross between a large dinosaur and a demon, it wielding vicious claws and fangs. Naruto not looking phased in the least as the monstrous being towered over him.

"You dare mock my mission, disregard my will to purge this earth!?" the being ranted as it went into a full on diatribe "How dare you confront me, Mother Nature's apostle in such a disrespectful manner!? Yet what more could I expect from a mere-"

Cutting the monster off as he buried his fist elbow deep into its gut, Naruto instantly sent it blasting backwards at high-velocity mid-tirade… straight towards the waiting Saitama who had been standing idly by as he awaited the pitch. Saitama cocking his fist back as he came up to bat.

The last thing the creature saw amidst the world of pain it found itself in being a red glove coming straight towards its face – just before its entire upper body exploded in a shower of gore from the massive force of the blow. The punch scattering the surrounding cloud coverage for miles in the process as it made contact. The sun shimmering off the man's dome, he regarded what was left of his half-second adversary whilst his blood covered fist was drawn back to his side.

"My name is Saitama, it's nice to meet you" Saitama introduced himself cordially to the remains of Vaccine Man – he having had good manners instilled into him by Naruto. After all, first impressions were important…

"I'm sorry for cutting this brief Nipple Man, but we really need to get going if we want to get the shopping done in time – Naruto are you coming?" Saitama asked as he looked towards where his brother should be only to take on a confused expression.

"Coming!" Naruto shouted with a smile as he headed towards his big brother with something or rather someone in his arms.

"What is that?" Saitama asked as he pointed to the little girl in Naruto's arms, now that he was a little closer he noticed that she wasn't that young, she looking to be around twelve or so, not that it mattered really.

"Oh this, it's a little girl" Naruto responded plainly

"I know that, I mean what are you doing with it?" Saitama asked

"Well I had to knock her out after I rescued her, so it's my responsibility as a hero to get her somewhere safe – right?" Naruto asked as he looked inquisitively at Saitama

"Naruto" Saitama lowly whispered as a shadow shrouded his features and he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder causing him to gulp.

Suddenly the shadow pulled away as Saitama looked at him proudly and gave him the smallest of smiles. "Good job, for this act of heroism you get two more marks on the hero chart on the fridge."

"Alright!" Naruto cheered as big grin formed on his face

"Okay we need to dump her on someone else – I mean get her somewhere safe," Saitama quickly corrected at the look his brother gave him when he suggested such a thing as ditching her in the middle of a ruined city. "Anyways let's just head to one of the emergency shelters and see what we can do, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can head to the sale." Saitama said as he started walking off in some random direction

"Got it big bro," Naruto said with a nod as he followed after his brother while looking at the little girl in his arms "Aww, she's a cute little thing isn't she!" Naruto cooed "Her jacket's pretty cool too, I wonder if she can tell me where to buy one like that…"

"All little kids seem cute Naruto, but deep inside they are the most fearsome little monster's any single hero can face." Saitama said with a fearful expression as he turned to Naruto

"Really?" Naruto asked wide-eyed at the news

"Yes really, after all I took care of you, didn't I?" Saitama said with a small satisfied smirk

"Hey, I resent that!" Naruto shouted back at him as the two of them headed towards the emergency shelter, unknowing of what the future awaited for them.

So our two heroes set off! On to find somewhere safe for their little friend, not knowing that this was simply the beginning of a long and treacherous road, paved by the monsters that they would no doubt crush underfoot. A journey of romance, adventure, and most of all overwhelming power… along with all the issues that came with each.

After all there's nothing suspicious about two costumed men walking around a ruined city with a little girl in their arms…no, of course not. Our heroes know exactly what they're doing-

"Agh, she drooled on me! How ungrateful of her – doesn't she know that these costumes have to be hand-washed!?"

... Well, at least they're strong.

A new epic begins as these two heroes fight for their own brand of justice!

Which girls would you like to see in the harem? Are the fight scenes any good? Feedback helps me know where to go.

-X-

Author's Note:

I tried to properly capture the spirit of One-Punch Man in this story while introducing this new dynamic between Naruto and Saitama. A little bit of inspiration from the film "Origin: Spirits of the Past" and the song "Waiting for Superman"

I have thought this story out far beyond where the manga or even the webcomic is at now so even if I catch up with the source material I can keep the story going if slightly AU. I can't believe the show is almost over, it only goes up to twelve episodes you know. I've been following the series since before it got animated so I understand that the slow updates might make the prospect of a second season one that might take a while if it ever does happen, but I sincerely hope they at least consider it. There's so much potential there – that and the animation is some of the best I've ever seen. It was just so… alive is the best word I can think of.

I think that the reason there's so few stories concerning One-Punch man is because a lot of writer's are intimidated by the prospect of how to moderate a powerful protagonist. Good thing I'm not so easily intimidated.

Now that my schoolwork is wrapping up expect more content from me as well as updates on my pre-existing stories.

Chapter Notes:

Hope I did okay on the fight scenes, like I said I'm a little bit rusty as I just got back on the site this last month and have been plagued with schoolwork ever since. This particular fight scene was one portrayed in the Third-Person and centered mostly around descriptive aspects of the conflict as the scene was meant to simply play out a particular scene and played out more as a memory or flashback that an actual fight occurring at that very moment. Actual fights will be a bit more intricate as they will offer some more perspective from the protagonist which was something that I simply could not do in this particular scene, that and dialogue was nearly impossible as one side could not properly hold up a conversation.

In the first half of this chapter I stated that Naruto lacked the words to express his sentiments, that does not necessarily mean he doesn't know some basic words or can't understand what is being said to him. He can say somethings, he can understand a lot, he just can't properly convey his feelings with mere words. He does not know how to string together sentences at this point in his life and only knows a handful of words that he's heard before and frankly "sorry" just wasn't one of them.

This chapter features a younger Tatsumaki, her abilities are as of yet unrefined and her personality is different due to a number of reasons that shall be explored later on, she has in no way been "nerfed". For instance she hasn't developed full multi-directional control of her psychic abilities and is still fairly dependent on hand movements to control her attacks. She's still fairly OP at this point in her life though, easily capable of leveling cities and handling Dragon level threats by herself. She is not a superhero at this point in her life, especially considering the fact that the Hero Association did not exist at this point in time.