The sun rose over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the house as Nolan stood outside, looking at the property. He had made a decision. It was time for the house to reflect the new life they were building. Too many people, too many plans—everything was about to change.
"Alright, guys!" Nolan called to the boys, who had just finished their breakfast and were standing around in the living room. "We're renovating the house. We need more space for everyone, so we're gonna make a few adjustments."
Mark, Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi exchanged curious glances. "Renovating?" Mark asked, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"
Nolan smiled and gestured around the room. "Well, with all of us here now, this place is getting cramped. We need more rooms, more space for everyone to train, to live. I'm going to make sure we've got what we need."
Naruto bounced on his feet, his usual enthusiasm apparent. "So, what can I do? Can I help?"
Nolan nodded. "Naruto, I want you to use your Shadow Clones. I need you to dig out the foundation for the new rooms. There may be rocks in the way, so Mark can help you break up any big ones."
Naruto grinned, eager to get started. "Alright! I'll make hundreds of clones! We'll get it done in no time!"
"Itachi, Sasuke," Nolan continued, "I want you to use your clones to help in the areas that need more fine-tuning. There's a lot of space to cover, and I'll be here to supervise."
Itachi nodded quietly, while Sasuke simply acknowledged the plan with a slight tilt of his head.
"Good," Nolan said, stepping back to observe. "I'll watch everything. If you need anything, just call for me."
As the boys started working outside, Nolan stood near the porch, keeping an eye on them as they worked. Naruto's clones were digging away furiously, while Mark helped break up large boulders in the yard. Itachi and Sasuke were busy working on the finer details of the construction, carefully placing wood beams and measuring spaces with precision.
Nolan was proud of them. It felt like a family, working together toward something bigger than themselves. But the peaceful moment was soon interrupted by a voice calling from behind him.
"Nolan!" Debbie's voice was sharp, yet filled with disbelief.
Nolan turned to see her standing at the door, her arms crossed. "Yes?"
Debbie raised an eyebrow. "Who's paying for all this? The materials, the labor... the whole thing. You really think we can afford this?"
Nolan smiled slightly, stepping closer to her. "Actually, Cecil offered me a deal. He's paying me $100 million every year that I stay on Earth. That includes everything—the house renovations, training, and if any Viltrumites ever attack, I'll get paid more."
Debbie blinked, shocked by the number. "$100 million a year?" she repeated, her voice incredulous. "Are you serious?"
"Yep," Nolan said casually, though his tone remained steady. "Cecil wants Earth to be protected, and he knows that I'm the only one who can help if the Viltrumites show up again. It's a deal that benefits us all."
Mark, who had been standing nearby, overheard the conversation and walked over, his jaw slightly dropped. "$100 million?!" he echoed. "That's... that's insane! I didn't think anyone made that much money just to stay on Earth!"
Nolan shrugged. "It's not about the money, Mark. It's about making sure we're prepared. If the Viltrumites come back, we'll be ready for them. The money's just the way it works."
Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto didn't react much to the conversation. They didn't quite understand the value of money in this world, not like Mark and Debbie did. To them, the concept was still foreign, just another piece of the strange world they had been brought into.
Naruto, ever energetic, glanced at Sasuke and said, "100 million? That's so much! I could buy lots of ramen with that!"
Sasuke simply rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the slight quirk of his lips. "You're thinking too small, Naruto."
Itachi, in his usual quiet manner, didn't say anything but looked at Nolan with a faint understanding. He knew that money was important in this world, but his focus was more on the training and the future, on the promises Nolan had made to protect them all.
Debbie stood there for a moment, processing the information. "I'm just... I'm just surprised. I never imagined we'd be living like this. It's so different from what I thought our life would be."
Nolan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know, Debbie. But everything is changing now. We've got a new life, a new purpose. And I'm not going anywhere. We'll make sure everything works out."
Debbie smiled, her worries momentarily set aside. "I hope so."
With the discussion over, Nolan turned back to the work being done outside. The boys were making good progress—Naruto's clones were rapidly digging up the foundation, while Sasuke and Itachi handled the intricate work inside. Mark had finished breaking up the large rocks and was helping Naruto carry them off to a designated pile.
Nolan watched with pride as his new family worked together. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't easy, but it was theirs. They were building something, not just for the future, but for themselves—a future where they could protect Earth and, most importantly, each other.
Later that evening, after a long day of work, Nolan looked over at the progress they'd made. The house was slowly being transformed, and the boys had put in a solid effort. They were getting stronger, and their bond was growing. It was a feeling Nolan hadn't had in years—a sense of hope, of purpose.
As the sun began to set, Nolan called everyone inside for dinner. The air was cool now, the work for the day done, and they could finally relax.
"Good work today, guys," Nolan said with a smile, as they all sat down at the table. "Tomorrow, we get back at it, but for now... let's eat."
The family gathered around the table, a simple meal laid out before them. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Together, they ate and laughed, the sounds of their voices filling the house.
And for Nolan, for the first time in a long time, things felt like they might just turn out okay.