X Evo: Naruto's New Journey

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or X-Men.

Speaking Normally

Thoughts (Personal or Psychic)

Demonic/Empowered Voice

Chapter 1, Recovery

It is said that if the will is strong enough, anything is possible. That said, can anyone do it; clear the mind and focus solely on one desire, one need? And desire it enough to actually will it into reality? Most of the time it is nearly impossible to do as few people in the world have a will strong enough to do so. Naruto was one such person. And though it was only a thought, it was filled with so much sincerity and need it practically came into fruition on its own. His thought: "I need to leave."

Another Dimension/Reality: The Sanctum Sanctorum, home to Doctor Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme and practitioner of the occult arts. What few know is the Sanctum Sanctorum is a nexus, a converging point between all realities and dimensions.

And it was at that very moment that Stephen Strange, from his study, felt a rippling through the realm. Something was coming, fast. But before he could even move, a gout of flame appeared before him, ending in a quiet 'thud' sound. He could honestly say of all the things he'd expected this wasn't one of them. The air had filled with the acrid stench of scorched flesh as smoke rose from what Strange could make out to be a burnt human body. With all he'd seen, it still took an effort to hold down the rising urge to vomit. As a former medical doctor, he could see that most of the skin and muscles were burnt off, leaving bones visible. What startled him the most were two things. First, to his surprise this person was still alive, and second, was healing via demonic energy. But first things first. In a swirl of smoke, he and the near dead figure were gone.

Xavier sighed sadly as he thought of the young man he'd been counseling for the last month and a half. There had been progress, but it was slow goings. It had taken more than three weeks just to get a response from him and even then he still wouldn't open up. Once he was reasonably sure the boy wasn't a danger to the others, he'd allowed him free reign to move around the campus. At first he'd been worried that the boy was like Wanda Maximoff, filled to the brim with power and, in his case mostly, unable to control it. His initial look into the boys mind told him all he needed to know about him. He was a good person, though treated like a monster. It had astonished him when the resident Sorcerer Supreme appeared in his library, charred body in tow. And then after they had moved him to the still being built infirmary, Strange had talked with him about the boy's peculiar power, the same one that allowed him to heal nearly as fast as Wolverine. A Demon, at least in part, biologically speaking. That was something else. But when they'd run his blood through the computer, the readout showed a variation of the mutant gene; unexpected, to say the least.

His concern at the moment though was the boy's mental state. Delving into his recent memories had revealed everything that had happened to him, resulting in his burnt condition. But recently the boy had started to talk. It wasn't much but it meant that he might be ready to trust again.

It had been a busy week as they'd managed to recruit several students. There was Scott Summers who was the first of the students, then Jean Grey when her telekinetic powers manifested. And soon, he hoped the latest addition, a young man named Kurt would be make his decision.

Making his way across the spacious lawn to a nearby tree, his wheelchair came to a halt beneath its branches. "A beautiful day, is it not?" he asked the seemingly empty area around him.

"It is," answered a deep voice, the emotion sounding strained. Visible only to those who knew where to look, a person sat up in the branches. A barefoot, blonde, sixteen year old teen boy, clad in jeans and a t-shirt, sat on a branch, his back against the trunk.

"You know, there are other students in the school. I'm quite certain they'd be more than willing to make your acquaintance."

The blonde said nothing, preferring to continue his private thoughts.

Xavier nodded, "I understand. In time I hope you'll change your mind." Rotating his chair, he left. "He's almost ready." Though the biggest and most important step was also the most difficult. As he left, a haunting melody filled the air. The professor smiled to himself, as he remembered giving the flute to the boy as a means of expressing himself without words. He had to admit, the young man had learned fast. And when he played, it was like he poured his soul into the music.

That night while most of the school slept, one individual was awake. Naruto lay on the rooftop staring at the stars and crescent shaped moon. In his mind though, he was contemplating his life; his past, the present, and most importantly, the future. Mostly though, he was contemplating Xavier's offer. He reminded him of the Sandaime with his generous and kind nature. He was very optimistic, but a good man. Maybe…maybe he was right. Maybe now, in this new world, was the time to start over. Sighing, he let the wind lull him to sleep.

Several days later he gathered his resolve. It was still relatively early, only the senior staff being awake. Walking stealthily down the halls he made his way to the Professor's study, as he was most likely there by now. Stopping at the twin doors, he prepared to knock only instead hearing the professor's voice. "Come in," he heard through the closed doors. Opening one of the doors, he poked his head into the room. "I really wish you wouldn't do that, Professor," he said wryly.

Charles Xavier chuckled to himself. "You do the same, Naruto," countered the bald man, smirking.

"Touché."

"Now what can I do for you on a fine morning like this, Naruto?"

Naruto blinked, "…You already know, don't you?" he asked, exasperated.

"I didn't need to be psychic to guess. I take it your ready to meet the other students then?"

Somewhat pensively, the blonde nodded.

Xavier smiled. "Good. The students should be getting up any time now. I'll introduce you during breakfast," he finished, giving the blonde several minutes to fidget while grabbing a book to look through.

Everyone was digging into their respective breakfasts when the professor rolled into the room. "Good morning, students," he spoke, nodding to Ororo. There were choruses of "Good morning, Professor," from the still small group of students, Scott and Jean. "If all of you could give me your attention for a second," he requested. All three heads turned to him. "Thank you. Now, there's someone I would like you all to meet…You can come in now." And heeding the Professor's beckoning, a young man walked hesitantly into the room to stand next to him. Ororo recognized the young man, having seen him already when he first arrived. "Scott, Jean, I would like to introduce Naruto Uzumaki. He is a new student here."

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," he responded to everyone after they went around introducing themselves. Taking a seat he quietly ate, listening to the ones called Scott and Jean tell him about Bayville High, the school he would be attending with them.

"I have informed the school that he would be transferring in. I was hoping the two of you would take him along with you to school, today, so that he may start classes there," Xavier added over a steaming cup of coffee.

"Sure, Professor," Scott answered, with an emphatic nod from Jean.

"Hey, there's a football game tonight. You should come with us," insisted Jean, Scott nodding in agreement between mouthfuls of eggs.

He rode silently in the back of Scott's red convertible listening to the two teens describe their teachers and classes. Most of the subjects he recognized, having a little experience in already. Specifically, Chemistry, Physics, and a few Biology courses he knew of already. Such was standard for genin to learn in the academy as each was necessary in certain fields. There wasn't much point in teaching kids to kill their enemies if they couldn't find where all the important anatomical weaknesses were. He grit his teeth. That is, he was taught incorrectly. On purpose. He'd had to learn the correct way on his own and without anyone's help until Jiraiya had taken him under his wing and taught him. Still, most genin were well versed in mathematics, various sciences, and a few logic and ethics classes, to name a few.

Not too long and they pulled up to a large three story brick building, the words 'Bayville High School' in large letters over the front doors. Jean looked back at him, "Are you alright?" she asked, sensing the emotions radiating off him.

Brow furrowed, "In this place…I feel ill at ease." Scott and Jean shared a glance, the male smirking.

"Don't worry about it. Everyone has that reaction." Trying to be serious, Jean poked him in the ribs for that little joke.

Looking between the two, the blonde couldn't believe how oblivious the two were to each other and to themselves. It was very obvious they cared for one another, yet neither even really knew about their own feelings, let alone how the other felt. His frown deepened when he looked to the top of the steps outside the main doors.

She was wearing a dark blue suit and skirt combination which only added to her authoritative appearance. Her hair, a deep auburn, was in a tight bun, accentuating the high cheek bones of her face. A stony visage, a scowl cut into it adding more power to her scathing glare. All in all, she looked very…sharp…just angular. The disapproving glare she was sending them as they walked toward her, nearing baleful, was strong enough, that it put his old sensei, Iruka, to shame.

"…Dragon lady…" he mumbled, mainly to himself, but Scott snickered anyway.

"Mr. Summers, Miss Grey, you two are officially late," her voice deep and heavy, and cold enough to make a person worry about frostbite.

Jean quickly stepped up. "We're sorry, Principal Darkholme. We we're-"

"It was my fault," Naruto spoke, moving from behind them and into the conversation. "I'm new to Bayville and they were showing me around. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, a new transfer student. Professor Xavier sent my files?" he asked, betting on a hunch. It was just good for him that his hunches usually paid off.

Darkholme sent a withering scowl back at him for stepping into the crosshairs, and being so nonchalant about it. "…Yes, he did." Her frosty gaze swept back over Scott and Jean. "You two can go, but don't be late again," her tone quite terse. Giving brief goodbyes and promising to catch up with him later, they jogged down the hall to their respective classes. "And as for you, Mr. Uzumaki…Come with me to my office and I'll get you your class schedule."

"Thank you," he answered lightly, ignoring her haughty glare. They walked in silence all the way up to the second floor where her office was located. Opening a file cabinet and flipping through several papers she retrieved a thin manila folder. From within, she pulled out a single paper.

"This is your schedule for the year," she said, holding forth the paper. He meant to take it, but her grip was iron firm. Looking up, he intercepted her curious glare. This one wasn't disapproving, annoyed, or angry, just…curious…as if trying to discern the answer to an unasked question. It was like she was…looking…for something, but he never faltered, only sending back an apathetic glare of his own to match hers.

"Thank you…Principal Darkholme," he spoke quietly, yet with a tight resolve, and walked out of the room. Darkholme was confused. Hadn't he left behind his… Looking to her hand, she found it empty, the itinerary gone. How had he… Her eyes narrowed.

"So, Charles, you have another one. I wonder. Who are you really, Mr. Uzumaki?" and for a brief moment, dark eyes shifted to a shining yellow, with cat-like irises. She would have to watch this one, like the others, until she knew what he was capable of.

124…125…126. This was it. Sighing, he steeled himself before raising his hand and rapping lightly on the door, his knocks echoing as a series of dull thuds. Opening it, he walked into his first class of the day. The other students looked at him curiously, mumbling between themselves. "Yes, young man?" asked an aged professor, peering at the young man through exceedingly thick-lensed glasses.

"I'm sorry for being late. I'm the new transfer student," he said calmly, and handed the man his schedule, a small handwritten note from Darkholme written in the lower margins. The teacher scanned the paper briefly before handing it back to him with a nod of approval.

"Very well. Please, take a desk."

Naruto nodded. "Thank you," he murmured and headed for a free desk to the side of the room. Sitting in the rather uncomfortable chair, he listened fairly intently to the teacher as he began where he'd left off: physics. Though it was a little boring as some of it was material he knew from his days as a green academy student.

Throughout the morning he went from class to class, introducing himself to the teachers and listening to the lectures, only letting boredom consume him once. It was 'Physical Education'…riiiiiiighhhht. They were all such lightweights. He had no doubts that any green genin could whip their butts. As a genin even Sakura hadn't been…he crashed that train of thought before it left the station. That was a person he never wanted to think about again.

He did his level best to ignore the glances he was receiving from the cornucopia of teens. He would have been even more nervous had he actually understood what some of the looks meant. "He's gorgeous!" a short-haired brunette whispered to her friend in the next seat over. Guys in general just ignored him, though one or two sent dark glares. Please, he'd faced death on a daily basis from the moment he was born, and that's just counting the people in his village. What could these…children…do to hurt him? And that's what they were. He hadn't been a child for the longest time. His…survival…had demanded he mature far faster than anyone else. Chances were the glaring guys were the boyfriends of the ogling girls. What made it really awkward though, was that he could hear it all. However, his understanding was a little…limited…not having received such positive reactions before.

Lunch was interesting. The students, or the herd as he began to see them, broke up into groups that seemed to have specific themes. "Having an alright day?" Lifting his head, he saw Jean approach, lunch tray in hand, before sitting across from him.

"It's been interesting," he admitted after a moment. "Though I could swear someone's spying on me. I've got that feeling of being watched."

Jean smiled to herself, laughing internally. He had no idea! Several of the girls' tables were gossiping up a storm about the new 'cute guy' in the school. He was completely oblivious…in an endearing way. "What?" he asked, brow quirked at her smirk.

Forcing the grin from her face, with some difficulty, "Nothing," she answered quickly, the picture of innocence.

A tray dropped next to Jean's. "Hey! How's lunch?" asked Scott.

Naruto's face took on a look of fascinated confusion. "I'm not really sure. I'm not even sure what this stuff is…" and gave the mound of mush a decent jab with his fork. "A moment ago, I looked at the grey stuff and…I could swear it looked back."

"Tuesday's mystery meat," Scott informed sagely. "Welcome to high school cuisine," he added wryly.

Sitting at the top of the bleachers, Naruto listened as Scott explained the rules to him. Really, it seemed a little…tame. Sure, there were some intricate strategies, but for the most part players relied on their brute strength. Sure, he was a brawler by nature, but there was always an underlying plan to everything he did. Overall, he wasn't too impressed with the sport, but it was interesting predicting the strategies either coach would use. Really though, Scott was watching Jean as she hovered around the sidelines taking photos for the school's 'yearbook'.

Receiving a nudge in the ribs he looked away from the field. Following Scott's crimson lensed gaze, he saw what had garnered his attention. "Looks like someone's making a late withdrawal," he said, standing up.

"Want any help?" Naruto asked.

"No, I should be able to handle it."

Five minutes later an explosion from under the stands lit up the night.

"Have you ever considered contacts?" Naruto asked conversationally. He was a little guarded, but he could still sense the tense atmosphere and wanted to alleviate it…as always. They had ridden back to the institute in silence after the 'accident' at the football game. The stiff glare from Scott in the rearview mirror told him not to push the subject.

"You're taking this well," Jean spoke up, thoughtfully as she turned to the rear seats to face him.

For a now rare moment, Naruto smiled. It was small and wan, but there. He knew what she meant. The unanswered question. "I've actually been at the institute for a while now. I just…preferred…to be by myself. So while you may not have seen me, I have definitely seen you. Who do you think dropped the apple from the tree out back of the mansion?" Something about the two just made him feel more relaxed. He couldn't sense any ill intent from them. They were…innocents.

The redhead blinked. "I thought that was the wind," she muttered, surprised.

"So you can control plants?" asked Scott as he navigated the dark road.

"Yes and no," the blonde answered slyly.

"Why didn't you introduce yourself earlier?" asked Jean, voicing an obvious, but still important, question.

Naruto grimaced, "My egress and arrival to Bayville was less than…pleasant. The Professor has been counseling me, and we finally felt I was ready to meet you." Both of the teens were curious about the details of his travel and why exactly it wasn't pleasant, but his far off look gave Jean enough warning to prompt Scott via a jab in the ribs so as not to ask the question.

Deciding to change subjects, "So then what exactly can you…do?" Scott asked.

Naruto actually snorted. This was the most animated they'd seen him all day long. "How long have you got?" he asked in a manner quite reminiscent of himself before he had been betrayed.

"…?"

"…Sharing would only be fair as I know all there is to about your…gifts." After a moment of composing himself, "I can control the…energy…produced by my body, and mold it to perform certain tasks," he answered, trying to dumb down chakra as much as possible. "Like you, Scott, my body stores energy, but I can draw it out and do…stuff…with it." He wasn't quite sure how to introduce to them the concept of alternate Earths, or that everyone in his world was capable of doing this. "The limitation is that I have to learn how to do these things. I can't automatically do it. And it has taken years, in fact nearly a decade, to bring my control to the level it's at, which is still relatively low I might add."

"So your mutation is simply the production of this…energy?" asked Scott, eyebrows showing over his sunglasses. Thank whatever gods existed that they didn't impair his night vision. He excelled in leadership skills whereas Jean was the real brains of the pair. So while she seemed intrigued, he was struggling a bit with the idea.

"As well as the potential to utilize it," Naruto added. "But remember, I say 'potential'."

"Almost like muscle memory," Jean suggested. "You learn by doing."

Naruto's small smile grew wistful. "Yeah, well, it has some…side effects….as well." The two were silent, giving him their attention. "Creating this energy increases my metabolism to a gargantuan scale. The more I use it, the more my body creates, and as a result I usually have to eat a lot."

Scott was dazed, while Jean was listening raptly.

"Think of my body as a storage vessel. The more energy I use, the more is produced, increasing my reserve size. Being that it is produced by my body, my cells are…saturated…with it. As a result, my body is a little…different."

A pair of wary glances were sent his way, one via the rearview mirror.

"The energy has augmented my bodily functions," he amended for them. Jean's eyes widened in understanding.

"What?" Scott asked, seeing the girl's reaction.

"Everything about me is enhanced, Scott. My strength…endurance…healing…reflexes…balance…senses. It can be quite…unsettling…at times."

"Wait, enhanced healing?" Jean asked.

"Yes?"

Scott scoffed in amusement. "Just like Logan." Jean nodded in agreement.

"The same Logan that the Professor has mentioned to me?" Naruto asked.

"Most likely," Jean answered. "So what is this energy?"

That one actually stumped him a little. Most of what he knew had come from Jiraiya who was more into practical learning than Iruka who excelled in total information coverage. "Think of it as a…base…energy. It has the potential to become other forms of energy, but in order to do so I have to learn how to do it."

"Can you, maybe, explain that another way for the less science inclined?" asked Scott apologetically.

"What I have already learned? I can use the energy to create duplicates of myself, for one." Scott and Jean were both bug-eyed, the former swerving a little on the road. "Should I wait to finish until we get back?"

"You probably should," Scott agreed. "One 'accident' is more than enough for one night." Already, the familiar long drive of the side road to the institute was coming into sight. "Besides, I think you should show us just to make us believe you."

"Professor? You wanted me to tell you when I planned to demonstrate?" Naruto asked, poking his torso in through the doors. The handicapped man's eyes glinted with interest in the dim lighting as he looked up from the tomb he was reading. He had wanted to see him use chakra, not just from his memories.

He felt his familiar shyness creeping up in him. When he sought attention by being 'the fool' it was easy, but this was him. He absently wondered how Iruka could stand in front of the class and lecture every day. "This is the energy I spoke of," he informed them, drawing on a little of his chakra. A blue film began to form around him. The audience, complete with Ororo, watched with captivated stares as he explained the energy. "And it is, essentially, my own life energy. If I ever use it all up, well, you know, no matter how unlikely or difficult that could be," he inferred, finishing off and let the energy dissipate.

"Fascinating," Professor Xavier murmured, examining the plasma like substance wrapped around him.

"So what can you do with it?" asked Scott from the couch, leaning forward in slight anticipation.

"With creativity and training…many applications are possible," he answered, remembering what Jiraiya used to tell him. "Remember what I said in the car?" he asked, facing Scott and Jean. The pair nodded. He concentrated for a second before a pair of duplicates appeared on either side of him with a faint 'pop' of displaced air. "These are solid duplicates created with my energy," he introduced.

The professor gave them a curious glance. "They are self aware, if to a limited extent," he spoke a second later.

Naruto nodded. "Yes. An…imprint…of my mind is placed within each upon creation. So they can even think and act independently." Scott and Jean were both gawking, not having seen as much as either of the two adults in the room. "And when they are destroyed," the two clones disappeared in twin small puffs of smoke, "All that they know, all they have learned, is sent to me via some kind of link."

"Psychic?" the professor theorized.

Naruto shrugged before shifting uneasily on his feet. "Maybe, with more practice…"

"And you know what they know?" asked Scott, impressed. "Dude, you would never have to go to school again!" He got reproachful glares from Ororo and Jean, the latter agreeing, silently. "Never mind," he said meekly, feeling the weight of their combined glares.

He went into his explanation of using chakra to cling to objects, or repel them. Scott and Jean nearly had aneurisms when he told them he could walk on water, and that was after he climbed the wall in front of them and dangled from the ceiling. Then, about how, with practice, he could further enhance his body by actively pumping chakra throughout it.. Finally, he reached a more…sketchy…area of explanation. Elemental control.

"Earlier, I said that my energy could be transformed into others. What I meant is that I can, to an extent, change it into elemental energies. That is, fire, wind water, earth," he said in amendment, not wanting them to think he was talking about the hundred plus elements of the sciences. When he got questioning, confused looks, he demonstrated by gently waving his hand. A little over ten feet away, Jean's hair was violently whipped backwards. He received looks of awe from the two teens, and looks of appreciative understanding from Ororo and Xavier.

"I met a man, a few years ago, who helped me to control my powers. When he died, his teacher showed me how to sense and utilize the energies of the world around me."

"What?" "Huh?" asked Scott and Jean at the same time. Naruto smiled lightly. It reminded him of his first days at the academy when Iruka first started teaching them about chakra.

Smile still present, "If I meditate, I can draw in and use the energies of nature itself," he offered. "It doesn't feel quite the same, but I guess that's to be expected."

Scott ruffled his hair in a show of utter bafflement. Not that he didn't understand, but that that was a lot to take in. "…That's…man….um…huh," he said with finality.

"It's strange, really," surmised the Professor for him. "Your ability is simple enough, but its effects are so…widespread." His observations were mainly for the others as he had already thought of such ideas earlier on.

"You're telling me," retorted the sunglasses wearing teen, throwing himself back against the couch. "Is there anything you can't do?" he asked the blonde.

Naruto just gave him a pained smile. "Many things, Scott, but it is never as simply as we want it to be. As you are well aware, nothing is without consequence. Everything has a price. What I can do took training…and sacrifice," his voice growing sad.

"What do you mean? Sacrifice?" asked Jean, more careful about what he was saying than Scott had been.

"I'm going to go get something from my room," he said, sighing tiredly. "Can you tell them, Professor. Your objectivity would help."

"Very well," the Professor answered watching the blonde slowly exit the room, before sighing himself. "You will have to forgive his secrecy; the boy has seen his fair share of the darker side of humanity." Switching moods entirely, "Now, Jean, Scott, what I am about to tell you may be a little…difficult…to hear, and even more so to understand, but please do not interrupt me until I am finished." With their looks of agreement, he continued to lay out the exceedingly complex story that was Naruto, starting with his world. The concept of alternate Earths was something straight out of sci-fi, but with a little effort, they conceded and agreed to the possibility. Well, Jean understood. Scott just nodded at the more advanced bits. "Naruto, is from a world where, from what I have seen of his memories, everyone has the potential of doing what he can."

"Wait, so is he a mutant or not?" asked Scott.

"From my analyses, he is, Scott, as are, quite possibly, the entirety of his world."

"Whoa," the teen woofed appreciatively.

"Indeed," agreed Xavier. "That was quite similar to mine own reaction when I first learned of it."

"So how did he get from his Earth…to ours?" Jean put forth, picking up on a key point of interest.

Xavier gave her a quick nod before continuing. "To explain that you need to understand Naruto himself," he added. "In his world, there were powerful entities composed entirely of energy. In fact, the same energy that the people of his world, and he himself, use." The teens listened as what felt like a fairy tale or lost story of history unraveled before them. "His people, to protect themselves from these…creatures…found a way to put them inside others, so that the power would be contained and, eventually, destroyed. Unfortunately, for the process to work-"

"A newborn child must be used as the container," Naruto finished, walking back into the room, stopping beside the Professor.

"Why a child?" Jean asked, barely over a whisper.

"My energy…chakra….is carried along pathways throughout the body. As the body matures, the pathways cease growing and harden into a permanent form. While placing the demons, as we believed them to be, in adults would be fatal, the container dying and the creature released, a child's body would adapt more easily. The pathways would grow to accommodate the massive influx of energy, and survive while containing the beast." Scott's jaw dropped, Jean's not too far behind.

"And that is just the beginning. There are consequences to being the container of such beings. Stigmas. Often, the child is trained to become a living weapon. Sometimes the energy is too much and the creature can influence the host. I knew another who had been driven to the brink of insanity by the beast within him," he added. "The people either fear or hate them…us. My childhood was…interesting… and for the first decade I never knew why, either. So, I repeat, the price of power like mine is high, and I can only hope that I have finished paying for it." He focused on the tense teens. "I told you before that my body is enhanced by my energy, by my chakra. That isn't quite accurate. It is enhanced by the energy of the creature that once dwelled within me."

He held forth the objects in his hand. One was a metal plate with a swirling leaf pattern etched into it, and next were a handful of knives, one of which had three sharp blades. And finally, he reached into his shirt and pulled out the necklace that Tsunade had given him so long ago. The original string had been burnt to a crisp, but the jewel had survived, and he was able to restring it. "These are all I have left from my world." The tri-prong kunai had been given to him by Jiraiya in his Will, and though he couldn't use it like the Yondaime could, it was still precious to him. It saddened him, remembering the noble pervert, and that the book he had treasured had been burnt to ashes.

"What do you mean 'once dwelled'?" asked Ororo, bringing the conversation back to a worrying area. "Where is the creature now?"

"Its energy is where it always was, within me, but its consciousness, its soul, has left," he answered the white-haired woman as he pocketed the kunai and hitai-ate plate. "As for how I got…here…" he said, looking to Jean, "Not really sure at all. The way Strange explained it, I…willed…myself to leave, and the different energy within me reacted and brought me here. Something about conviction, or whatever." It had been a very confusing conversation with the mystic.

"So, why'd you wanna leave your home?" asked Scott.

The Professor tensed, as did Storm, but a glance from Naruto told them he was okay with answering…that. "Do you know what immolation means, Scott?" By his face taking on a green pallor, it was obvious he did. "I was trussed up and set on fire, both as a response to what I am, and in celebration of a former friend of mine being announced village leader. In fact, it was by his order." Scott looked like he was about to lose his lunch, as did Jean. "So, as you can guess, there was a fair amount of incentive to leave."

"What about your family?" asked Ororo, having never heard the entire story before.

He grinned ruefully. "Orphan." Though he knew the deeper secret behind his…family…it wasn't something he felt like sharing. He didn't want any more pity than he could see in their eyes. Xavier knew, he had no doubts. The man had been in his head after all.

Conversation was rather tense for the rest of the night. The Professor had let them all go to bed without digging into the whole 'football game' fiasco. He felt that they were drained enough after Naruto's talk, and decided he would wait until the morning to talk with them about it. He was amazed though by Naruto's admission. His trust was not easy to come by, as he had seen, but he seemed to have found Jean and Scott to be so, and quickly too.

He retired for the evening as well as he and Ororo had a special appointment very early the next morning.

Middleton Train Station:

Charles and Ororo waited on the platform as the early morning arrivals exited the cars and onto the platform. Scanning the crowd, they were looking for one person in particular, someone they had never met before. "Is that him?" asked Ororo, motioning to the young man exiting the train with a duffel bag.

"That's not Kurt," the professor corrected lightly before turning towards the rear of the train where a cloaked individual with twin bags was exiting and doing his best not to be noticed. "That's Kurt."

Far north, a man pulls his Harley off the winding mountain road before parking outside a small convenient store. Removing his helmet, he donned a battered cowboy hat and headed inside. Hardly had he made it through the door when a newspaper stand caught his attention. Specifically, the name 'Bayville' mentioned in the margins of the front page article. 'Trouble brewin' back home,' he mused before grabbing one of the papers.

"You gonna buy that paper?" asked the store owner from behind the counter.

"That's why I'm holdin' it, bub," he answered gruffly and tossed the paper onto the counter. "And a bottle of water, too. Cold." The owner turned to get the beverage while he himself perused the article. He wasn't liking what he was seeing.

"Warm weather we're havin' for this time o' year," the old man said as he offered the bottle, and took back the bills. Ringing up the purchases, he heard the sound of something being sliced, but missed seeing it. All he saw was the spinning top portion of the glass bottle as it settled on the counter. A second later, the bottom half of the bottle was slapped back down on the counter, empty.

"Recycle that, would'ya?" the burly man asked before turning and leaving, paper clenched in a tight grasp.

On a distant peak, feral, angry eyes watched the small figure leave before snarling.

The following morning, Friday, saw the occupants of Xavier's up fairly early as everyone had their own plans for the day. Scott and Jean were both setting out with Naruto in tow. Respective backpacks slung over their shoulders, they walked past the common area. Catching a glimpse of the professor, "We're heading out, Professor," Scott called, only to be stopped.

"Scott, Jean, Naruto, you three come in here for a minute," Xavier called to them, interrupting their progression toward the door.

"What's up, Professor?" asked Scott, eager to get going.

"Before you go, I'd like to introduce you to a new student." Pushing the cracked door to the small library open further, the three assembled. The room was dimly lit, as always, and the professor was at the far wall. What caught their attention though was the slumped, cloak wearing individual to his right. "This is Kurt Wagner. He arrived early this morning."

Scott immediately took the initiative. "Hey, Kurt! This' Jean, I'm Scott, and this is Naruto."

The blonde gave a lazy wave. "Yo."

"How you doin'?" the sunglasses wearing young man continued, offering his hand. Kurt immediately shied away from the contact.

Naruto spotted kneejerk reaction almost on the spot. That kind of thing came from fear.

The young man retreated to Xavier's side. "Kurt, you are among friends here," Xavier assured, Jean walking over to his side.

Hesitantly, the cloaked young man pulled his hand from within the folds of his robe, taking Scott's hand and shaking it. "Hello," he greeted in passable English, but with a thick German accent.

Scott tried to hide his surprise when a second later he noticed the limb was blue…and furry.

Noting the expression of shock, Kurt pulled his two fingered hand back quickly into his robe.

"Ahem," interrupted Xavier, hoping to clear the tension in the air. "I was just telling Kurt how I set up this institute for gifted youngsters. Youngsters whose gifts are not always an asset. Right, Scott?"

The teen had hoped that the fiasco of the previous night might slide by, even if he knew better. "Uhh, about last night-"

"It was difficult to forget. It was on all the news channels," the bald man reprimanded.

"It was a bad situation, and…there was an accident," he countered, scratching the back of his head in discomfort at the situation he was in. "Sorry."

"I know," Xavier acknowledged, steepling his fingers. "Fortunately, no one was badly hurt, and the true cause was not discovered, but you must be more careful," he urged.

Scott's patience frayed a little. "Come on, Professor! I'm backing a bazooka behind each eyeball! What do you want from me?"

"Control, Scott! That's what you're here to learn. That's why you're all here." He turned to Kurt. "Scott's eyes emit a disruptive optic blast beam."

Feeling a bit more courageous at all he was seeing and hearing, the new mutant reached up and pulled back his hood. "Cool." Dark blue hair fell around his long, pointy ears, and his slender face gave him an elf-like, maybe Puckish, appearance.

"How 'bout you, Kurt?" asked Jean. "Got a special gift that brought you here?"

The young man was gone in a small puff of smoke, reappearing all the way across the room in a similar cloud of smoke. "Maybe," he answered playfully.

"Whoa," Scott and Jean murmured in mutual awe.

"Sweeeeet," Naruto thought, whistling appreciatively. Though he noted the smell of sulfur from the smoke, he filed it away for later.

"I'll be helping Kurt get settled in. We can talk more tonight."

That early morning found a young, rather toad-like individual meeting with the school principal. And when he left, he was significantly paler, fear in his eyes.

Kurt looked around in poorly concealed awe. "Whoa. This bedroom…is mine?" he asked, not quite believing.

"Of course, Kurt," Xavier answered. Ororo walked to his side, a package in hand. "Your parents sent you to us, because they knew that you would be happy here."

Kurt's smile sagged a little. "Happy?" He turned to stare at his reflection in the mirror over the dresser. "How can I be happy when I look like this? I scare people…" The weather witch placed the package on the bed for him to find later.

Smiling, Xavier beckoned the young man forward. "I have a surprise for you, Kurt." Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a digital wristwatch. "Put this on," and handed it to the blue boy. The moment it slipped over his wrist, his image flickered, another taking its place.

Kurt stared in wonder before shooting over to the mirror once again. His skin was pale, his hair black, and he was dressed in casual clothes. "I don't believe it!" He looked himself over. He looked so… "I'm…I'm normal!"

"Of course you're normal, Kurt," Ororo agreed from next to the professor. "But not because of that machine."

Xavier nodded. "Storm is right, Kurt." Rolling over, he guided him to the mirror. "Normal is what you truly are. Never think otherwise. This is just a disguise," and with a press of a button, the holoimage faded, returning curt to his blue, robed self. "A disguise so that you'll not be persecuted by those who do not understand your gifts."

Kurt nodded solemnly. "I understand, professor. But nonetheless, you rule!" he cheered, reasserting the holoimage. When they left to give him time and space to settle in, he noticed the box on his bed. Lifting the lid, his eyes lit up as he came to realize what was inside.

The bell rang for lunch. Separating off from the crowd, Scott went to stow his books..

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your perspective, it was then, when the halls were relatively empty that he was broadsided by Todd Tolansky. Figuratively speaking.

Cerebro came to life, jerking Xavier from his reading.

Watering her garden with a miniature storm cloud, the senior staff member observed the blonde before her as he floated in the air in a meditative position, buffeted by the air around him. As spectacular as his results had been in utilizing his innate wind nature to fly, hovering was slowly becoming a troublingly difficult goal. His face was screwed up from the strain. He could levitate, but the control needed to do so was different than all out flight. "Remember, Naruto, your emotions directly affect your abilities. If you're agitated, it will only make the task harder." At the start, it had been difficult, but not overly so. As time progressed though, his irritation began to show as he shook in air.

"Storm."

The only outward sign that she had been contacted by the psychic headmaster was a slight inclination of her head. "Yes, Charles?" she acknowledged across the link he had established.

"I was wondering if you might…audition…someone for me," and he filled her in with details regarding the supposedly unnoticed trespasser on the campus.

While she was more than happy to do it, she still sighed in disappointment at the lost chance to further the young man's training. "Naruto, I have to go take care of something, I want you to take a break for a few minutes. Once you've calmed down, try once more." He shakily dropped back to the ground. His feet touching the concrete floor of the terrace, wobbling, a bit dizzy from the intense concentration. "When you've reached your limit, that'll be it for the evening."

He nearly fell out of the air when the professor spammed the campus. The newest addition, Kurt, was in the Danger Room with an intruder. He didn't ask for the 'how' or 'why'. He may not have been in said room yet, but he knew enough about it. When left without command, the defenses were automatic.

Anyone who didn't know this…

Cutting all wind chakra, he dropped to the terrace floor and bolted back into the building.

"Oh, I get it!" Nightcrawler exclaimed, understanding dawning on him, "It's a training area." Having a bright notion, "Like this." Teleporting away from Jean's telekinetic safety net, he reappeared on top of one of the robotic arms. "I just pull the plug, and-OOOPH!" The plug had hardly left the socket when the machine started bucking wildly beneath him. "WHOA!"

"HRAH!" a blur passed right over him.

Fist rocking forward, Naruto tore through the section of wall, the robot arm exploding. Maintaining his momentum, Naruto landed heavily against the brushed steal. He was barely there before coiling his muscles and jumping. "Watch yourself," he warned, shooting himself at the next target, a large spinning set of blades raised from the flow. An empowered drop kick left it in pieces.

An arm tried to retaliate. Swinging down on him, it was blasted away by a red beam of energy. "Gotcha covered."

One moment they were fighting flaying metallic appendages and defenses, the next, everything went dead. "Is everyone all right?" Xavier asked over the intercom, tone stressed and full of worry.

"We're all okay, Professor," Scott called.

"Man, speak for yourself," Toad huffed. "I'm outta here," and was out the door before anyone could stop him.

"Professor, I'll go after him."

"No, Scott. Let him go," Xavier countered. "Still, Naruto?"

"I'll see him out, Professor," the blonde answered, understanding. Blurring away, he shot after the slimy teen, acting as his shadow until he left the property.

Kurt's head fell. "I knew this would happen. Ahh, I ruin everything," and in a puff of smoke he was gone as well.

"Go after him, Scott," the Professor urged. Unlike Tolansky, Kurt wanted to belong, but was more afraid of doing something wrong than the other teen was.

It wasn't too hard to tail the fleeing teen. Even if he couldn't see him, smell alone made him easy enough to track. Then again, he was well within eyesight of him, so tracking wasn't necessary. What was really embarrassing was the teen's poor sense of direction. It took him five minutes just to make it up to the ground level. Was it really so hard to recognize an elevator door?

"Free at last," the toad boy cheered in relief, popping out of the glass doors and back onto the familiar lawn.

And right into the most imposing figure he'd seen since the principle had gone all monstery. Glaring apathetically down at the pale boy, he clenched his fists. From the spaces between the knuckles of his fingers three blades burst forth on either hand.

Toad cowered before the menacing man in his path.

"No, let him go, Logan." Both looked to see Xavier rolled out on the second floor terrace. Giving the teen a final glare, he retracted his metal coated claws and stepped to the side, gesturing lazily. Toad needed no further explanation.

"…Place's psycho…" they heard before he left ear shot.

"I heard there wuz trouble brewin'," Logan retorted. "But then maybe it was just stink boy over there."

Xavier just smiled at the man's humor. "It's good to see you, old friend. We missed you." Despite his normally frosty nature, the Canadian former weapon cracked a wry grin.

Glancing upward, "Why don't you come down, Naruto," the bald man insisted. Dropping silently from the branches overhead, the young blonde and Logan regarded one another.

"Logan, this is Naruto. Naruto, Logan." Logan grunted, the blonde responding with a nod.

"Nice ta meetcha, kid."

"Likewise."

AN/ Again, throwing another out there just to see what you think.