Chapter 23: "Motorcycles, Martial Arts, and Sibling Sass"
In which Naruto stalks Danny's sister (for professional reasons!), Jazz wrecks a creep's hand, and nobody calls the cops for once.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a spirit mentor guiding a teenager through early adulthood while moonlighting as an underground boss-in-disguise with a mission to reform an entire city's youth (and also teach them bike tricks)… congrats. You have a very specific imagination. But also—welcome to Naruto's Tuesday.
After letting Danny enjoy his joyride in the real world, Naruto took the wheel in the mental one. While Danny got to imagine he was still racing through the city on his Fireblade like a Ghost Rider extra, Naruto wrapped up loose ends. Or, as he put it:
"Life never gives me a chance to rest."
He said it dramatically, of course. Like the exhausted dad in a superhero flick. You know, the one who's secretly immortal, has a tragic backstory involving a dimension or two, and wears brooding like it's Armani.
In truth, he was missing his family. The ones from his world. He hadn't seen them in ages. Not physically, not even in dreams. And that kind of longing doesn't go away just because you're immortal. But no matter how heavy the ache, Naruto stayed the course. Danny's growth was his mission now. And, if Naruto was being honest, a small part of him had started seeing the kid as family.
Still, Naruto's plan had layers. Like one of those overly complicated cakes on a cooking show where the chef starts saying things like "textural contrast" and "emotional core." Danny wasn't the only one who needed training. The Fentons—Danny's mad scientist parents—would have to be roped in eventually. But first?
Jazz.
Jazz Fenton. Older sister. Black belt in judo. Psychology major. Lover of justice. Destroyer of creep wrists.
She was smart. She was stubborn. And she had a sense of calm that reminded Naruto uncomfortably of some of his old team captains. She'd be a nightmare to manipulate… but a perfect ally if she was convinced.
Naruto pulled into the university gates on the Fireblade, looking criminally cool in leather and sunglasses. The kind of guy your mom would tell you to stay away from—and then immediately look up online because he looked familiar.
He parked like a professional action star: foot down, one smooth swing of the leg, sunglasses glinting like he had his own sound effects.
"Showtime," he muttered.
The timing was perfect. Jazz stood at the bus stop with her usual calm expression, a backpack slung over one shoulder, flanked by her friends. And—ah, there they were. Two very brave or very dumb guys harassing her group like they thought they were in a frat-themed music video.
Naruto didn't intervene. He crossed his arms, leaned against a tree, and watched with a smirk.
One guy reached out—bad move, buddy.
With a lightning-fast judo grip, Jazz twisted his wrist and pop!—thumb dislocated. His buddy lunged. Sweep, drop, elbow to the ribs. Two creeps on the pavement, groaning like they'd been hit by a truck full of gender equality.
Naruto actually clapped.
He cruised the bike closer and called out:
"Jazz, I'm here!"
Jazz turned, fully expecting to see Danny. Instead, she saw what looked like a much cooler alternate universe version of her little brother—on a high-end motorcycle and not in an anime hoodie for once.
She blinked. "…Danny?"
Naruto lifted the visor of the helmet and grinned like he was starring in a shampoo commercial. "Nope. But close."
She walked over, arms crossed. "What are you doing here? And where did you get this ridiculous bike?"
"Picking you up. It's date day," Naruto said. "And it's not ridiculous. It's a symbol of newfound responsibility."
"Who are you?" she asked, a mix of amusement and confusion in her voice.
Naruto dismounted and offered her a hug. "Call me a mentor. A guide. Or just the guy who thought you might like a lift."
Jazz allowed the hug (which surprised even her), then eyed him skeptically. "What kind of job gives out motorcycles?"
"One where I started as a cashier and ended up as the boss's personal assistant. It's a little complicated."
She looked over the bike. "Does this… 'employer' know you're joyriding in his high-end toy?"
Naruto leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "He encouraged it."
Jazz rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "And you saw what I did to those guys. Why didn't you step in?"
"Because you're not a damsel," Naruto said with a wink. "You're a warrior princess. And those two needed a lesson only you could give."
Jazz raised an eyebrow. "You're smooth. That's new."
Naruto held out a helmet. "I get better every day. Hop on if you want to see what else has changed."
Jazz hesitated for exactly two seconds before taking the helmet. "Only because I'm curious."
"Of course," Naruto said, hopping back onto the bike. "Just remember—you asked for it."
And with that, they roared off into the rising sun, leaving behind one broken bus stop, two groaning creeps, and a very confused crowd of college students wondering if that was the opening to some kind of spin-off anime.
Spoiler: It was.
-------------------------------
Jazz Fenton prided herself on being logical, cautious, and very, very hard to surprise.
Which is why she hated the fact that the current situation had her clinging to her younger brother's waist, riding shotgun on a motorcycle that probably cost more than her tuition—and definitely didn't have a valid license plate.
She also hated that she was enjoying it.
"You're on. So, where are we going?" she asked, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms like a school principal prepping for battle.
"That's a surprise," Naruto said, his grin flashing under the edge of his helmet like some kind of anime delinquent with a heart of gold. And before she could react, he scooped her up—yes, scooped, like she was a bridal bouquet—and plopped her neatly onto the seat.
"HEY!" Jazz yelped, already pivoting to dislocate something important, but her signature judo move hit empty air.
Naruto was already ten inches back, smirking like the world's most annoying action hero.
"When did you get this strong?" she demanded, mentally filing away theories ranging from "ghost fusion" to "alien protein shakes."
"Trade secret," Naruto said with a shrug. "But feel free to observe and learn—no charge, if you can keep up."
Jazz frowned, suspicious. Danny—her actual, dweeby little brother—could barely bench-press the toaster. This guy? This guy was all confidence, charisma, and vaguely illegal levels of core strength.
"Never try that again," she warned, sliding on the helmet with enough force to make a dramatic point.
"You looked adorable, sis," Naruto teased, brushing off her threat with the precision of someone used to verbal landmines. "And I will do it again. A princess deserves to be carried by her prince."
"Wow," she muttered. "You've really leaned into the role, huh? What, were you just hiding your personality behind acne and poor fashion sense this whole time?"
"Something like that," he said, revving the bike. "I tried being normal. Didn't fit. This suits me better."
Jazz snorted. "You've been reading too many trashy novels."
"If I like trash, I'll enjoy it with pride."
She pinched his side.
He yelped like she'd hit a nerve. (She hadn't. He was faking.)
"Now hold tight," he said with mock drama. "We're off!"
The city blurred past in streaks of concrete and neon. Wind rushed against them like a playful challenge, the bike weaving through traffic with the kind of precision that should've been illegal—or at least ticket-worthy.
Jazz clung to Naruto's waist, her mind a storm of confusion and suspicion.
Who was this guy?
She'd known Danny since he was born. She remembered him sneaking cookie dough at midnight, crying over paper cuts, and wearing socks with sandals until the age of twelve. But this? This wasn't Danny. This was someone new. Someone strong. Confident. Recklessly charming.
She hated how much she didn't hate it.
"Where exactly are we going, Prince Charming?" she shouted over the engine, sarcasm sharp as ever.
"To a place fit for a warrior princess," Naruto replied smoothly, dodging a food truck like it was a minor inconvenience.
"Okay, what is this? Some kind of weird theme you've got going now?" Jazz asked, squinting. "Should I be expecting a tiara?"
"Maybe," Naruto said. "But it's not a theme. It's the truth. You're strong. Capable. Smarter than most people I know. I figured it's time you stopped carrying everyone else for once—and let someone carry you."
Jazz was quiet for a long beat.
That one hit home.
"…Since when did you start saying things like that?" she asked, voice softer now.
Naruto's tone matched hers. "Since I realized how much I've taken you for granted. You were always there for me, Jazz. And I never said thank you properly."
Jazz blinked. Emotional vulnerability? From her brother? What next, a group hug and matching therapy journals?
Still… she tightened her grip on his waist. Just a little.
"Okay, fine. Where are we headed?" she asked, her voice sliding back into mock-annoyance.
"It's a surprise," he said again, this time with a knowing grin. "But let's just say it involves good food, some relaxing music, and possibly a goat."
"…A goat?"
"Possibly."
Jazz sighed. "If this ends in a petting zoo, I'm throwing you into the llama pen."
Naruto laughed. "Noted. But trust me, warrior princess. You'll love it."
And for the first time in a long time, Jazz let go of her doubts—even if just a little—and leaned into the ride.
She didn't know where they were going.
But for once, she didn't mind the mystery.
She had a leather jacket, a ridiculous helmet, and a brother who'd somehow turned into a surprisingly thoughtful dork.
------------------------------
Spending time with your sibling was supposed to feel normal. Predictable. Maybe a little annoying.
Spending time with Danny—who was currently channeling the energy of a part-time model and full-time motorcycle delinquent—was something else entirely.
Jazz had spent the last three hours trying to solve the mystery that was her little brother's glow-up. And she wasn't just talking about the new leather jacket, or the sleek way he handled that absurdly expensive bike. No, this was deeper. Something had shifted. And Jazz Fenton was determined to find out what.
It started innocently enough.
They hit the mall after Naruto declared, "You're not going anywhere fun dressed like a grad student who's also a part-time librarian with chronic responsibility."
Jazz tried to protest. "What's wrong with my sweater vest?!"
"Everything. Everything is wrong with it."
Twenty minutes later, Jazz was reluctantly admiring herself in a mirror, wearing a flowy sundress and a jacket that actually fit her frame. Naruto, feet up in the dressing room across from her, gave a whistle.
"See? Warrior and princess."
She rolled her eyes so hard she might've seen a different dimension. "If I find out you're possessed by a fashion ghost, I will exorcise you."
Naruto just smirked. "Good luck. I look too good to banish."
Next up: snacks. Because no sibling outing was complete without sugar and grease.
They sat on a bench outside the theater, munching on curly fries, the sky glowing golden with the late afternoon sun. The movie they'd just watched—a cheesy action flick with more explosions than plot—had Jazz rolling her eyes for ninety minutes, but Naruto had laughed like it was cinema gold.
"You have terrible taste," she said flatly, licking ketchup off her thumb.
"I know," he said proudly. "That's what makes it great."
She hated that she laughed.
Eventually, their joyride led them to the city's edge—a quiet, hidden beach where the waves whispered secrets to the shore.
Jazz kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot in the sand, letting the sea breeze tangle her hair. Naruto followed, tossing his jacket on a rock and stretching like he had all the time in the world.
For a moment, they were just siblings again. No mystery, no ghosts, no ominous changes. Just sand, sea, and two people trying to reconnect.
"You ever gonna tell me what's going on with you?" Jazz asked finally, skipping a smooth rock across the waves.
Naruto didn't look at her right away. "What makes you think something's going on?"
"Oh, I don't know. The bike. The new wardrobe. The sudden confidence. The part-time job you refuse to explain. And the fact that you called me a 'warrior princess' unironically. Want me to keep going?"
He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, fair."
Jazz turned to face him, arms crossed. "Seriously. I want to help, but I can't if you keep dodging me."
Naruto hesitated, then smiled. "Let's just say… I've got a mentor now. Someone who sees something in me that I didn't see before. He's helping me grow."
Jazz raised an eyebrow. "And this mentor—he gives you cryptic advice, magical self-esteem, and designer leather jackets?"
"Basically," Naruto said with a shrug.
Jazz sighed, half-exasperated. "Why can't we ever just have a normal life?"
"Because normal is boring," Naruto said, flopping onto the sand and patting the spot next to him. "And honestly? I think we're both meant for more than normal."
Jazz sat beside him, pulling her knees to her chest. "That sounds suspiciously like foreshadowing."
He grinned. "Nah. Just brotherly bonding."
They sat in companionable silence, watching the waves. For now, the world was quiet. No ghosts. No drama. Just salt, wind, and maybe, finally, a chance to understand each other again.
----------------------
The golden hour had just started doing its thing—casting romantic filters on the world and making Jazz wonder if maybe, maybe, this really was the best sibling outing in years.
And then the goons showed up.
Because of course they did.
It was like the universe looked at their picture-perfect moment and said, "Nah, too peaceful. Here, have some jerks with bruised egos and questionable life choices."
Jazz noticed them first. Two of the men she'd judo-schooled that morning, now flanked by half a dozen of their shady beach buddies, were approaching with baseball bats, chains, and the sort of grins that said they thought this was going to be easy.
Spoiler: it wasn't.
Instinct kicked in like a well-practiced kata. Jazz stepped in front of Naruto protectively. "Danny, you run. I'll hold them off and make a way for you."
She didn't even hesitate. That was the kind of sister Jazz was—fierce, loyal, and apparently under the impression that her brother still needed protecting.
Naruto blinked. Then blinked again. Then sighed.
"Relax. I'll handle this," he said, pulling her gently behind him like it was just another walk on the beach. Not the "about to fight a small gang" kind of moment it very much was.
Before Jazz could argue—probably with something involving logical probability ratios and the tactical disadvantage of being outnumbered—Naruto made his move.
And it was fast. Like, blink-and-miss-it fast.
A sharp kick sent a cloud of sand into the attackers' faces, and Naruto dove in like a ballerina raised by wolves. Every strike was deliberate—open-palm hits to the chest that dropped the men like Wi-Fi signals in a concrete basement. No wasted movement. No unnecessary flair.
Just ten grown men collapsing like they'd all simultaneously remembered they left the stove on.
Jazz stood frozen, mouth slightly open. Her brain was buffering, trying to load a rational explanation. Was she hallucinating? Had she entered a Kill Bill dream sequence? Was Danny secretly a secret government experiment?
Nope. Just her "little brother" casually disabling ten thugs without even breaking a sweat.
He crouched by the lead thug—the one who earlier had made a comment about "teaching Jazz a lesson" (which, honestly, Jazz had planned to teach him a lesson again anyway)—and slipped something into his pocket.
A black card. No logo. No number. Just a neat sentence in shiny silver letters:
"You get one warning."
Naruto stood, dusting his hands off like he'd just finished light yardwork. Then, to Jazz's further disbelief, he turned around and pulled her into a hug.
"Everything's all right now."
Her brain still hadn't rebooted, but her heart understood. And maybe, in some weird way, it always had.
As they walked back to the bike, Jazz was silent. She kept glancing sideways, as if checking whether the person walking beside her was real.
Finally, she said, "Today was... a wonderful day."
It came out softer than she expected. Not quite a compliment. Not quite a confession. Just truth.
Because it was a wonderful day. She'd laughed. She'd bonded. She'd been reminded that her little brother was not only growing up—he was becoming exceptional.
And somehow, he still had room to tease.
"Shouldn't a perfect date end with a kiss from the princess?" he asked, flashing that infuriatingly smug smile.
Jazz rolled her eyes so hard she might've unlocked clairvoyance. "Hmph. In your dreams."
Then, with a smirk of her own, she leaned in and kissed his forehead. "There. Be grateful."
Naruto chuckled, hopping onto his bike. "It'll do."
As she walked home under the warm hues of dusk, Jazz found herself smiling.
Danny was different. Stronger. Wiser. Infinitely more annoying.
But maybe—just maybe—he was finally becoming the man he was always meant to be.
And heaven help anyone who thought they could mess with him now.