A/N: REVIEW, FOR IT FEEDS THE ENGINE OF CREATION~!

Writing this with one hand and one eye was absurdly difficult. Don't ask, its a lot to explain...

*takes a deep breath*

So, I read the latest manga chapters, and...well...

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE! Absolutely NOT!

Huge spoilers ahoy but I am right and properly PISSED OFF!

How can a man focus on God of War when such a tragedy occurs?!

I won't speak of it, but the latest manga chapters are out and I AM NOT AMUSED. Not only was there a major SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER but Eren got the shaft. Somehow a LOT of unexpected events transpired and...well...

...some really heavy events took place.

I wasn't prepared for it, and it shook me up.

This chapter has a somewhat darker tone to it. Remember, Naruto and co. might be seen as devils by some-glares at Marley-but in truth, if left alone, they're harmless. Most of this story has been them REACTING to trouble caused by their enemies. Now they're pushed too far and they'll be the ones taking the offensive.

Shame their enemies haven't realized that.

I think the following modified quote symbolizes Naruto's mindset in this chapter quite nicely.

Sorry if this is short, but I no longer have as much time to write as I used to; as such, the chapters aren't always going to be long ones.

Such is the pain of reality, I suppose. Now then...

...onward~!

"You have no idea what's coming, do you?"

"They were a threat! Its only right that we acted first for the sake of peace!"

"Peace? Is that what you call it? No, my friend. You stabbed the devil in the back. Forced him into the life he'd just tried so desperately to put behind him. You unleashed a gang of killers. Incinerated the priest's temple. Burnt it to the ground. Now that you've woken that dragon...what do you think he'll do? He had a glimpse of the other side, and he embraced it. But you took it away from him...

...and now he's coming. For you."

~Pixis and Rod Reiss.

Long Live the King

They struck under cover of darkness.

Shadowy figures flitted across the rooftops in muted arcs of steam, near silent save for their own muffled footsteps. None saw them. None heard them. Had any been fool enough to witness their passing, they would have been cut down on the spot in an instant, leaving none the wiser. As one unit, so too were they of one mind. Wraiths in the gloom, grim and determined. For too long had they stood by and watched the Survey Corps grow in power; in fame and adulation, even going so far as to defy the edicts of the royal family. For too long had they lain in wait, unable to interfere as their influence expanded to new horizons.

No longer.

Now they, the Interior Police, would strike before they could carry out their plans.

In another place, another time, they might've been bold enough to attack and take Eren Yeager-as well as Historia-during the day, heedless of consequences. Now, any assault in broad daylight was doomed to fail, sure as the sky was the enemy had grown too strong, too numerous, too popular with the people. Worse, they were always vigilant during the day; almost as if they expected such an ambush. For all their grandiose speeches about taking back humanity they seemed just intent to push past those very boundaries, to invent and innovate in spite of the crown.

And that whiskered freak of theirs...he seemed to be everywhere at once!

Alighting upon a weathered stack of crates, Kenny took a moment to orient himself.

"So, this is the place?"

The building in question appeared unassuming to the naked eye; little more than a humble stone cobbled together by someone who incapable masonry. Ackerman knew better. This was the home of the enemy, their base of operations. For for all his strength and strange abilities, even that one had a weakness. More aptly, his students. While their teacher might well be untouchable, they were not. A cowardly way of going about things perhaps, but orders were orders, Kenny supposed.

"Breach and clear." he commanded, and three of his subordinates proved quick to follow.

He watched them work with a dispassionate gaze.

It was almost a pity it had to end this way.

Uzumaki Naruto...anyone with a reputation like that had to be a born killer. He would've rather enjoyed a go at him during his peak, not the grief-stricken wreck he'd become after they slit his student's throats in their sleep. If there was one rule in this profession it was thus; kill your target's kin first; then he'd come at you stupid. Kenny wasn't adverse to this old adage-indeed, he'd made use of it many times during his storied career- but neither did he take any pleasure in his mission tonight.

After all, he was passing up the fight of a lifetime; an opportunity like this would never come his way again.

He'd seen the blond once before from afar; glimpsed him in a crowd even as he saw through the mask. Recognized that tell-tale glint in those wide blue eyes. A born actor this Uzumaki Naruto might well be, but Kenny knew the gaze of a killer when he saw one. He'd butchered countless men and women in his life and felt next-to-nothing; but the sight of those azure orbs sent a chill through him. One of fear, but also excitement. In spite of his quiet demeanor, every fiber of his being radiated confidence and power. Not that he was going to draw first blood; one way or another...

...they wouldn't be prepared.

Thus it came as something of a surprise when the door burst open before them.

Blinding light flooded his vision, blinding in its intensity.

"What in blazes...?!"

"Now, Sasha!"

Even as he flung himself away from the voice, a towering fist burst through the door-frame like rotten timber; making way for a hand the size itself through the opening and seized three of his men. They barely had time to scream before those towering fingers closed around them. Kenny didn't see their deaths, but he certainly heard them; the wretched squelching sound of muscle and bone being pulped beneath that massive fist. Snapping off a shot, he flung himself back, seeking the safety of the rooftops even as chaos erupted below. Everything was going wrong. He needed to move, to regroup with the others before it was too-

A cold steel barrel burst out of the darkness, jamming its large barrel against his skull.

"Yo," a dark, familiar voice drawled in his ear. "Long time no see, Kenny."

What kind of weapon was that? He'd never seen the like before.

The elder Ackerman bristled.

"Levi?"

"Been awhile." His nephew grunted as he hefted the heavy weapon, his deadpan expression never once wavering. "Say hello to my little friend."

The harsh click of a hammer reached Kenny's ears.

"Well...shit."

A hail of bullets discharged violently in his face and he knew no more.

(...Scene Break...)

Pieck craned her neck at the distant sound of a gunshot.

This late at night?

Here?

Chastising herself for her overactive imagination, she turned her focus back to the task at hand. She needed to be ready. Prepared. Able to spring into action at a moments notice. Even now she had no way of knowing if or when she'd be discovered; her true identity sussed out, and all the anger of the island turned against her. She told herself she ought to be worried. Concerned. Cautious, at the very least! Instead she found her fingers fumbling at her workbench, quietly notching the assembled components before her into a coherent piece.

She was losing herself.

With each passing day she spent here she found herself slipping further and further into this monotony. Try as she might, she couldn't seem to dig herself out of it.

She'd thought they were demons.

She'd been wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. Demons didn't live like this. These...these were people. She'd watched them over the last few weeks, observing their every interaction. They loved one another. Cared for another. Fought and died together. Had the others experienced this? This conflict? She'd heard rumors. Annie had defected. Reiner and Bertholdt had been devoured, their powers stolen. By all accounts she should be worried. Terrified, even.

And here she was, ENJOYING her work!

It should've been easy to pose as an apprentice gunsmith; indeed, it proved effortless. Given her expertise when it came to weapons, she was something of a hot commodity. Despite the king's iron-clad decrees, those under the Survey Corps banner were all too eager to innovate. When compared to the lackluster weaponry of Paradis island, some considered her a prodigy, genius even. Granted, this was in no small part thanks to the artillery her titan wielded, yet even so! But no, the REAL problem lay with their leader, because he was absolutely infuriating to work with, yes, but also because...

As though waiting for that very moment, the door to her "workshop" crashed open with a resounding crunch.

Swift footfalls reached her ears, rapidly encroaching.

"I'm coming in~!"

She flailed, hiding her work.

"Ack! Naruto-dono! Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry, sorry!" his voice called. "I just had an inquiry-

...she was beginning to fall for this brash, boorish, blond buffoon!

Steeling herself, the titan shifter concealed the components behind a cloth, moving her body to block them.

"Why are you here so late?" feigning indignation, she turned just as his lithe form rounded the corner. "I told you I'd have your order ready by tomorrow, didn't I?"

Idly, she noticed his hands hadn't left his coat pockets.

Paranoia seized her by the throat, momentarily strangling her voice.

'Relax, relax, he knows nothing, nothing at all...

"Well, its technically midnight, so here I am." the whiskered warrior offered a light laugh, "But more importantly, I wanted to ask you something."

Icy fingers of dread trailed down her spine, mocking her fear.

"Its very late, so I would appreciate if it you didn't."

"Aw, don't be like that-

THUD.

Breath burst out of her lungs as a kunai leaped from his hand and embedded itself solidly against the wall. A thin rent opened in Pieck's cheek and she started, hands instinctively flying to the small cut despite the supposed near miss. In the same instant a hand slammed against the opposite side of her workspace, trapping her between his body and the bench. Her escape barred, the blackette suddenly found herself gazing up, up, up into that tan visage, spellbound by blazing crimson eyes. A hand took hold of her by the chin, forcing her to meet that bewitching gaze.

His smile made her shiver.

And not in an unpleasant way.

"Let's talk about Marley, Pieck-chan."

A/N: Hanji and Sasha bits next chapter; I felt it important that we return to the plot.

Hooray for CLIFFHANGER endings! Is this a happy ending? Hmm. Good lord I am TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRED! I pulled an all nighter to write this and I've got a super long shift today! Still, there we are! Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

Also, no way in HELL am I letting SPOILER die because that just wouldn't be fair. Be sure and read the latest chapter once you've reviewed!

Only a few chapters left now!

Also, let's establish a list of the Titan Shifters, neh?

Naruto = Asura Titan. (Original)

Zeke = Beast Titan.

Eren = Attack Titan + Coordinate.

Pieck = Cartman Titan.

Ymir = Dancing Titan/Jaw Titan.

Annie = Female Titan.

Mina = Armored Titan.

Hanji = Colossal Titan.

Ms. Tybur = Warhammer Titan.

And there we go! Hope you guys and gals enjoyed this chapter!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And of course, the previews!

We're nearing the end here, folks!

Yes, I had a bit of fun with them.

This is what happens when you interrupt a man during God of War!

Mind you, they're only potential previews and deliberately fragmented at that.

(Previews)

The weapon felt light in his hand.

Carefully crafted and perfectly balanced.

Newly made, one might even call it the first of its kind. No one on Paradis island had ever laid eyes on such a weapon.

"This will change the world...

Armin swallowed thickly.

"Sensei...you're supposed to be a hero...aren't you?"

"A hero, you say?"

Naruto turned, regarding him coldly.

A hand palmed his face, stifling a forlorn laugh.

"No, Armin. I gave up any notion of that a long time ago. If anything, I'm a hypocrite. This world doesn't need people like me. What it needs is a monster. A figure so unassailable that no one will think to stand against them. A power our enemies won't dare challenge; because the moment they do, that its. Doom. Annihilation. You talk of peace, of parley. That's all well and good, but the enemy won't stand idly by if we lay down our arms. You see, the truth is, I'm not the hero everyone makes me out to be. I just want our little island to be left alone. But they won't stop. They'll never stop, unless we make them. And then, once its over...

...I'll die."

"Oi, kid. Can you fly?"

Gabi blinked. "What do you mean?"

A fox loomed before, towering and furious.

"Try to shoot her again, and you'll learn the hard way."

"ZEKE! I have returned! I bring the destruction of Marley!"

"Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge!"

"You poor, pitiful child."

"Daddy!"

R&R~!