Dragon Knight Titan Chapter 2 (A Red Scarf) (Patreon)

Naruto, now ten years old, jumped up and down. His dark hair has grown past his chin, covering some of his blue eyes.He was currently inside the living room of Aleena Campbell, his nanny for when Erwin and the other scouts head beyond the wall in the south district. They were currently in Shiganshina. His adopted father Erwin stood in front of him, with his Aunt and Uncle stationed near the door. Aleena herself was behind Naruto, ready to look after him when the scouts leave.

"We talked about this, Naruto. You'll join once you've gone through basic training." Erwin said.

"I know, but that is so long from now! I want to go with you now! I am ready. I've been training and everything." Naruto said.

Hanji smiled warmly at Naruto, "Don't worry, Naruto. We'll be sure to get you a souvenir."

"What!? Like the head of a Titan!?" Naruto asked excitedly.

Aleena cringed and gasped at such talk.

"Now, Naruto. You know that's not possible. Do you need extended lessons when we get back?" Edwin asked looking at the boy.

"No. Please. I know lots of things about Titans, I swear. I just thought Aunt Hanji would've come up with something that would stop it from dissolving."

"Ha! Not yet, but I'm making progress! You'll be the first to know if I can make something like that." She smiled.

"Okay." He murmured pouting.

Speaking up from his spot at the door, "Besides, You're not nearly ready enough." Lewi said.

Looking over at Levi, "Oh yeah? I could take you down!"

Naruto threw out his fist playfully.

"Don't make the same mistake as last time.I won't take it easy on you because you're a kid." Lewi warned.

"Bring it on, old man." He challenged playfully.

Levi's eyes twitched at the new nickname, "Old man? Right, now you've done it."

Levi then strode over from his place at the door and scooped Naruto up, throwing him over his shoulders. Naruto tried to fight, pounding his fists into his back.

"Hey, let me go. I wasn't ready. This isn't fair!" He said trying to fight back.

"Do you think Titans will be fair when you're on the other side of the wall?" Levi asked with a serious look.

Naruto left out a sigh of defeat, "No."

Levi placed Naruto back onto the ground, smiled and messed his hair up. Naruto groaned, waving his hand to stop the small man from doing it anymore.

"Your hair needs a cut." Levi said.

Blowing a lock away from his face, "It's a choice. Soon, I will be taller than you. Then we'll see who's over who's shoulder, uncle."

"Keep dreaming, kiddo."

Levi went back to his spot beside the door.

Erwin kneeled in front of Naruto, "Be good for Miss Campbell, okay?"

Nodding, "Yes, father."

"This mission won't take too long, I swear. We'll be back before you know it." Erwin said.

Naruto smiled at his father, "I'll be waiting by the gates every day!"

Erwin chuckles, "I'm sure you will."

Erwin then held out his fist, causing Naruto to grin.He created a fist of his own and connected it with his father's before both of them placed it over their hearts in a salute.

Erwin/Naruto said simultaneously, "Devote your heart."

Erwin smiled affectionately, rubbing Naruto's head.

"That's my boy.," he said as he stood up, "Be good."

Naruto nodded. Erwin went to the door to join Levi. Hanji walked over and leaned down, smiling brightly.

"Ah, look at you!" She said grabbing both of Naruto's cheeks, "Just as cute as the first day I saw you."

Trying to pull her hands off his cheeks but to no avail, "Auntie!" He moaned in annoyance.

"I'll make sure to try and capture a Titan alive for you. That'll be a treat, wouldn't it!" Hanji said.

"It'd be cool!" He said excitedly.

Leaning down and planting a kiss on the top of his head, "Now stay safe!"

"Yes, Aunt Hanji."

"Good."

Hanji then left with the others, leaving him alone with Miss Campbell. Naruto sprinted to the far window, looking past the curtain and out the seethrough panes. He watched as Erwin, Levi, and Hanji joined up with a small squad of Scouts who waited atop their horses. They all swung up onto their saddles, getting ready for the mission ahead. The blonde leader looked towards the window, smiled slightly and nodded his head. He then spurred his horse forward, causing the others to follow.

One day, I'm going to be just like him! Naruto thought.

The fat older caretaker placed a comforting hand atop his shoulder and smiled down at the dark haired boy.

"I'm sure they will be fine. They never failed to come back before." Campbell said trying to reassure the boy.

Smiling up at the kind woman, "I know. Nothing can stop them. No titan can even come close!"

Stepping away from the child and towards the kitchen area, "Well, I'm going to cook us some dinner. Why don't you go out and play, maybe you'll make some new friends?"

"Huh? Really!?"

"Of course, I see no harm in letting you run around. But don't stray too far from the house, you hear?" Campbell said strictly.

Jumping up and down, "Of course! Thank you, Miss. Campbell."

"You're welcome, child."

Naruto quickly rushed out the door and down the paved streets.His father and his squad have already gone, most likely already at the gate.Naruto bounded through the streets, looking up at the blue sky with a wide happy smile. He enjoyed the freedom. He bounced around strangers who were going about their day.Many of them looked on with confused and annoyed glares. But the boy didn't care. He only cared about actually being around others.

Sure he had the scouts, but his father never let him outside to play. Well, outside in a city or even village. Naruto has never really played, talked, or even seen another kid his age before.

Flashback

Naruto pressed his face against one of the windows in the military HQ, watching three kids play in the streets below. They were too far to see properly, but he could tell they were having fun. He looked back at his father, who was discussing something with the current scout commander, Keith Sadies. They were both pointing to stuff on a map that was laid out on the table.

Naruto bounded over, a wide smile present on his face.

Pulling on Erwin's sleeve, "Father! Father! Can I go out and play! Please!"

Erwin and the commander looked down at him. Erwin had no real distinction on his face, but Sadies didn't seem very happy about being interrupted.

"Naruto, we both know that's not allowed." Erwin said.

Naruto decided to play a little trick. Putting on his best puppy dog expression, "Pretty please. The other kids out there are playing!"

"This is their city. They know it better than you. I fear you may get lost or hurt by some stranger. Neither I, Levi, or Hanji could spare going out and supervising right now. We have a very important mission to plan." Erwin said trying to not fall for his tricks.

"What about Petra!" Edwin asked looking at the boy.

Silence hung in the air before the commander let out a large belly laugh. Naruto glared at him, while Erwin only frowned slightly.

"The private? The small little girl? Why would you want her to come? Do you like her or something?" Sadies asked.

Naruto growled but grew super red in the face.

"Commander, please contain yourself." Edwin ordered.

Sadies looked at Erwin and stopped laughing. The blonde man then turned back to his son, crouching down to his level.

"We've discussed this many times, Naruto. You're not allowed. Do not make me regret taking you to Shiganshina in the first place."

Naruto looked away, sad and angry, "It's not fair."

Placing a hand on his shoulder, "Life isn't fair, Naruto. That's the unfortunate truth of this world. But it's our job to make it a little more bearable. . . do you understand?" Naruto looked back at his father with wide eyes.

"It's our job to protect humanity and lead it into the next stage. We're the shields and swords of the world. We have to be strong, and sometimes that means forfeiting certain things."

Naruto nodded, "I-I understand, Father."

"Good," he said rising to his feet. "Levi, can you take Naruto downstairs. I'm sure he'd appreciate a distraction."

From his spot at the door, "Right away, Section Commander." He said walking behind Naruto. "Come on, Naruto."

Naruto looked up at his uncle before sparing one last look at his Father. He was then guided from the room.

"I'll give you the tour. . . then we can start cleaning." Levi said.

"Oh, not again." Naruto pouted in annoyance.

End of Flashback

As Naruto was running and reminiscing, he didn't see the boy in his path. The two collided, causing them both to topple to the ground. Naruto rubbed his head, looking at the boy he had just hit.The first thing he noticed was he had bright blonde hair.

Getting up, "Sorry about that. I guess I should watch where I am going next time." Holding out a hand to help. "Here, let me."

The boy looked up at Naruto. The boy hesitantly accepted the help.

"I was just excited to be outside, is all. The name's Naruto, what's yours? "

"I'm Armin."

The boy reached down and scooped up a small loaf of bread from the ground.

Looking sheepish, Naruto said. "Sorry if I ruined your meal."

"Oh, it's not a problem. Nothing my grandfather can't wipe off." Armin said dismissively.

Naruto tilted his head at the side. "You look to be around my age."

Nodding his head, "Mhm. I'm nine."

"Ha, no way." Prodding a thumb into his chest, "I just turned ten! So do you live around here?"

"I live only a few houses down." Armin said.

Naruto nodded, "Well, sorry about the bread, Armin." He stopped as he was rummaging through his pockets, "Let's see if I can make it up to you,"

Armin understood what the other kid was trying to do, waving his hand in front of him in protest, "Oh, there really is no need."

Naruto looked up unsure, "Are you sure? I mean, it was kinda my fault that you fell in the first place."

Armin smiled, "Yeah, don't worry about it. You'd be surprised how many times I fall over." He said with a chuckle at the end.

Naruto only hummed as a response. When the blue-eyed boy opened his eyes once more, they widened as he stared over Naruto's shoulder. Naruto raised a brow at this. He went to turn around to see what Armin was looking at, but the blonde boy stopped him.

"Umm, well, I've got to go! Nice meeting you! Bye!" Armin said walking away immediately.

Naruto watched in shock as the small boy bolted into a nearby alley. The dark haired boy finally turned around to see three tougher looking boys sprint in the same direction, entering another alley.

That doesn't look good, he thought to himself.

Naruto followed in the direction Armin had run.

As he turned a few corners, Naruto heard voices. One was definitely Armin, while the other sounded different.

"Well, look at what we have here!"

"P-Please. Can't we talk this out?" Armin stuttered out fearfully.

Naruto reached the edge of a building, peering into a small yard where the blonde boy was cowering from three boys. Armin's back was pushed up against the wall, the loaf of bread clutched tightly in his left hand.

"That looks delicious." He said licking his lips, before holding out his meaty hand, "Give it here!"

Holding it tighter, "Please, it's all we could-Oof!"

The main bully drove his knee into the smaller boy's stomach, causing Armin to fall to his knees in pain. Naruto watched with anger as the bully kicked the helpless boy across the face before picking him up and pinning him against the wall.

"When I ask for something, you give it. Understand?"

Armin weakly nodded. Even from a distance, he could see tears pooling and falling down his cheeks. The main bully grabbed the loaf from the shaking boy's hand. Naruto couldn't watch any longer.

He stepped from his hiding place and walked into the small yard behind a few of the houses.

"Hey, leave him alone!" Naruto yelled in anger.

They let Armin go, causing the blonde boy to slump against the wall. They all lined up, staring at Naruto. The main bully pocketed the bread before cracking his knuckles.

"What the hell do you want!?"

"Leave him alone and give him back that bread!" Naruto shouted with a firm tone.

The main bully looked at his friends, laughing. They turned back to Naruto.

"And what are you going to do about it?!" He taunted the small boy.

Naruto took a deep breath, remembering all the training he had received from his father, uncle and aunt. These were nothing more than some stupid meatheads. They will be easy.

Dragging his feet back and getting into a fighting stance, "I'll stop you."

They laughed.

"There is only one person around here that could scare us with that threat. . . and you're not them."

They charged, yelling as they go. The first bully reached Naruto first, throwing a wild right jab towards him. Naruto sidestepped, gripping his outstretched wrist, using the bully's momentum to throw him across the dirt.

As their leader rolled across the dirt, the two others stopped, stricken with a brief moment of hesitation and fear. Naruto used their hesitation to his advantage.

With power and speed, Naruto jumped off the ground. He planted his left foot into the gut of the bully on his left side. As that hostile groaned in pain, Naruto kicked off him and drove his left knee into the head of the still baffled bully that stood next to them.

Landing on the ground, the two bullies he had just struck stumbled backwards. Naruto snapped his view between them, analyzing them. He had managed to execute something that his uncle Levi had shown him a year ago. A move he could never get right, until just.

The two bullies he had just hit got back into their sloppy fighting stance and charged once more. Both swinging with their fists, Naruto dodged and countered attacked at the same time. Blocking their fists with his forearms, he countered by striking the assailants with either his fist or elbow.

Stunned by this attack, one of the bullies had no time to react to Naruto's powerful kick to his chest. The bully was sent flying back into one of the walls that lined the yard.

Naruto watched the boy slide to the dirt, looking beat. As he watched, he barely noticed the other bully throw a haymaker towards him. Quickly turning his face, the bully only managed to graze Naruto's cheek.

Stumbling back, the dark haired boy regained his defence, staring at the bully that had managed to touch him.

I got cocky. I have to be more careful than that. Naruto thought.

The boy rushed back, filled with newfound energy. Probably happy that he managed to land a hit on him slightly. The boy started to wail punches in Naruto's direction as soon as he got close enough. The blue eyed boy had no problem blocking or dodging the strikes. Growing angry with each miss, the boy put all his power into one punch, aiming for his head.

Naruto smiled, his plan working perfectly. As the fist drew closer to Naruto's face, the boy ducked out the way just in time. The bully's fist connected with the hard wall that Naruto had backed up to, planning for that moment from the beginning.

The boy screamed in pain, holding his broken hand. Naruto used this to strike the bully in the gut before over hand striking him in the side of the head. The bully was thrown to the ground in a puddle of pain and tears.

Shaking his fist, "That's what bullies get. Now don't ever try to threaten, beat, or intimidate Armin again. Do you hear?"

The bully only groaned and cried.

"I'll take that as a yes." Naruto said.

Naruto then stepped over the mess of a boy and towards Armin, who looked at Naruto with wide eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" Naruto asked looking at Armin who was confused more than anything.

"H-How did you-"

"A few things I picked up from my uncle. Now, let's get out of here before the MP's show up."

"Right, I just- WATCH OUT!" Armin screamed.

Naruto gasped and turned to find the main bully, who he had forgotten about, right behind him. In his meaty hands, he held a small but sharp knife. He swung that blade down towards Naruto, with anger and fury in his eyes.

Naruto tried to dodge but wasn't fast enough. The blade punctured the top of his left cheek and made a pretty deep cut. Naruto cried in pain as he fell to the dirt, blood dripping down his face.

Naruto reached up and touched his red cheek, gasping in pain. He looked back up at the main bully, who turned to the wounded boy, knife still clutched tightly in his hand.

"You had to go and be a hero, didn't you!"

Naruto crawled away from the bully, trying to gain his footing, but failing.

"Come on! You're a future scout, damn you!" Naruto thought.

The bully drew closer.

"Naruto. Run!" Armin shouted.

Naruto couldn't. The only thing he was capable of doing at that moment was shuffling away from his attacker.

"I'm going to cut you until even your own mother doesn't recognize you!" The bully threatened with a glee look.

Dad was right. . . the world is unfair. I should never have gone out. I should've stayed at Miss. Campbell's house, just like Father told me to. Naruto thought.

The bully smiled wickedly down at him.

And now I'm going to die before even doing my part for humanity.

The bully pulled back a strike, ready to stab. But before he could, a small figure came from nowhere, kicking the bully in the face. Naruto watched, amazed as the figure in a cloud of red saved his life. The bully was thrown into the wall, his knife flying from his grasp.

The small figure stood in front of him, giving Naruto a better look at his saviour. It was a girl with dark jet hair, with a large red scarf was wrapped around her neck that fell around her small body. The blue eyed boy was taken aback by the power and grace that emitted from this girl.

Looking up, the bully seemed to recognise her, "Oh shit! It's her! It's Mikasa! RUN!"

The bully rose to his feet and rushed over to his friends, who were reaching their feet shakily. They quickly bolted out of the alley, pushing one another to be the first to flee.

I guess I know who they fear now. I can't believe this girl could scare guys like that. Naruto thought.

Looking up at the girl who glanced down at him, But looking at her now, he can see why.

Onyx eyes met blue. Naruto felt a gust of wind blow past him, and his heart beat faster.

"Yeah, you better run! Wait until I find you and kick your ass, you assholes!" Someone said.

Naruto and the girl who must be called Mikasa looked over at a boy around their age with brown hair facing the way the bullies ran off in, shaking his fist in the air.

"I will kick you until you're pissing in your own puddle of blood!" He continued.

Mikasa sighed, "Eren, they're gone." She said at the boy whose name was Eren.

Turning around and crossing his arms over his chest, "Good thing too, or they'll be in a world of pain." He said.

The girl named Mikasa turned around and looked down at Naruto, reaching out a pale hand for him to take.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I-I- uh."

Naruto shook out his daze and quickly accepted the help up.

"T-Thanks." He thanked her with a smile.

Rushing up beside Mikasa, "Naruto, that cut looks deep." Armin asked concerned.

Naruto reached up again and touched his cheek, coating his fingers in blood. He hasn't really felt the pain, but now the adrenaline was wearing off. It started to come in waves, causing him to wince. The boy, who Mikasa named Eren, walked over and looked at the cut.

"That psycho actually tried to kill you."

Pulling out a white handkerchief, Here, put this on the cut. It should help." Mikasa said.

Smiling and accepting the gift, "Thank you."

Placing the cloth on his wound, wincing slightly, "Thank you for saving me."

Mikasa nodded.

"I'm Naruto, by the way. Naruto Smith. I would shake your hands but-" Looking at his blood-soaked hand.

"I'm Eren," he said before gesturing to the girl in the red scarf. "This is Mikasa," To Armin, "and that is Armin."

"We had the pleasure of meeting. He saved me before you guys showed up. You should've seen him. He kicked their ass."

Naruto was shocked that the blonde boy could see him like that, even after getting stunned by the bully with the knife.

"Cool." Eren said smiling at Naruto, "You must be almost as badass as Mikasa."

Naruto smiled and looked at Mikasa, who hid behind her red scarf.

"Well, that cut looks pretty deep. Come with us. I can take you to my home. My father's a doctor. He can patch you up."

"I-I don't want to cause a- "

Waving his hand, dismissing Naruto, "Ah, anyone who sticks up for Armin is a friend in my books. Isn't that right, Mikasa." Eren said before looking at the girl.

Mikasa nodded.

"You see. Now come on. Armin, you should come too. We can have dinner over at mine. It should give us plenty of time to hear this story of yours."

The brown-haired boy walked away, gesturing them to follow.Mikasa looked at Naruto for a few seconds before following Eren. Armin followed, stopping when he noticed Naruto still standing in the same spot.

"Come on, Naruto! It'll be fun."

Naruto looked at Armin before looking up into the blue sky.

"Okay. I'm coming."

Naruto followed, leaving the alley, following his new friends.

Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad after all. His eyes landed on the raven-haired girl and smiled, An angel wrapped in a red scarf. I owe you my life. . . Mikasa.