Naruto

The New Frontier

By Fire and Lightning

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. However, this story does not take place in the canon lore of the series. This is a crossover of Naruto and my own series titled "Chris Lynheart". If the reader is annoyed by stories that break away from the actual lore, exit this story immediately.

Naruto Characters: All main characters in early Shippuden. Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and a few others.

My characters: Any character outside of Naruto lore, as well as any animal species that will come into play later in the story.

Story setting: The first mission against the Akatsuki time period.

Supporting couple: NaruSaku. I'm actually neutral as far as the shipping goes these days because the series has ended and I've moved on from Naruto. However, NS is the only couple that would make sense for this story aside from the relationships in my own books.

Warning! All of my characters are protected by copyright. You may NOT take these characters for your own use!

I will try to upload every weekend. Chapter length will vary

Author's Notes: Hey, everyone! It has been a long time coming, but I'm finally making a comeback to Fanfiction. I know I haven't updated in a long time, and that I disappeared without warning, but things were getting a bit hectic in my life, but I've since gotten past it. I've been wanting to get back to this story for a while now, and hope to recapture the charm and sense of adventure it gave. I apologize if the story doesn't seem as upbeat as the last stories did at first, but give me some time to get back into it. Anyway, if you haven't read my first story, I highly advise you do so. Sakura's journal is also recommended.

That is all for now. Kick back, relax and enjoy a good long read.

Chapter 1

Arrival

Months had passed since Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi left the Elemental Nations behind to travel with the Atlassian fleet to Atlassia – the homeland of the Unknown or Atlassian people, and a land shrouded in mystery to any outsider. Little more than a rumor or a myth was known to most people about Atlassia, but there were a select few that knew the name, and even fewer who knew even the most basic knowledge of the land. No outsider had ever seen the Unknown shores, let alone ever set foot on its beaches, but that would soon change. The former team that made the Leaf's squad seven would soon be the first foreigners to ever see the land and set foot on its soil. Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi have left their previous rankings as ninja behind, and are now Private ranking in the Atlassian military, but have yet to be put under any of the ranking generals or assassins.

Though they managed to pass their training, their time on the Eclipse – the Atlassian Navy's newest Fleet Destroyer tier ship – has not been easy. Since the first minute of boarding the Eclipse, the former ninja went through endless hours of physical, weapons, tactics, formation and infiltration training with little to no time off. During their training, they learned firsthand why the Atlassian military is so feared and highly praised by those who know of it. Even the weakest Atlassian soldier has high moral and is willing to fight for his country and people to his last breath. Even with her chakra enhanced strength, Sakura had trouble holding her ground in sparring matches, and only managed to win eighteen out of two-hundred matches. Were it not for his multiple years of military service and combat experience from the Hidden Leaf Village, Kakashi wouldn't have fared much better. Out of his two-hundred matches, he managed to win forty-five.

Naruto, however, had it the hardest. With his chakra connection severed, he was forced to adjust to the Atlassian combat training without the power of the Nine-tailed fox. This made it beyond difficult for him to adjust, and he was only able to win five sparring matches – the very bare minimum for a recruit to graduate from the beginning stages of basic training. Despite his disadvantages, Sakura – his now beloved girlfriend constantly cheered him on, and urged him to not back down, no matter how hopeless things seemed at times. She had even caught Admiral Lynheart and Night Hawk watching him from time to time, and could tell they were impressed by his willpower alone.

As for Alvis, he spent most of his time with Admiral Lynheart's fiancé, Jessica Holland, who taught him the basics of Atlassian culture, religion, and laws he would need to follow. She made it clear to both he and Sakura that he would have to be put into school once they arrived to the mainland. Military service is mandatory in Atlassia, and the training starts from an age as early as eight. Two years younger than Alvis.

Despite her rarely ever seeing him, Alvis still saw Sakura as his new mother and their relationship strengthened every time they had some time together. It was rarely anything more than a quick lunch or dinner together, or sometimes even a goodnight kiss, but it didn't matter to them. It was still precious time together. Jessica and Sakura also got along relatively well, and Alvis viewed Jessica in an aunt in many ways.

Today, however, was the day the former ninjas left the Eclipse, and set foot on the Atlassian mainland. With only another twenty miles to go, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and Alvis, who was sitting on Naruto's shoulders, stood at the front of the ship eagerly awaiting their first glance of the land. Currently, the fleet was in a low fog that lowered visibility, but the outlines of mountains could just be made out through the fog.

The fleet had grown tremendously since they departed from the Elemental Nations. The Eclipse and her fleet of an additional two-thousand ships was joined by two other capital ships. Another fleet destroyer named the "Setting Sun" and its combined fleet of two-thousand ships, and a City Destroyer ship named the "Relentless" combined their fleets with the Eclipse making a fleet of nearly six-thousand ships and well over two-million troops being transported back to Atlassia.

Dragons of all breeds of the Ela species filled the sky by the thousands. Flying at incredible speeds towards the mainland, they escorted the fleet home. Launched from both fleet destroyers and the one-hundred Dragon Carriers spread throughout the fleet, they filled the skies like a giant roaring cloud that more than impressed the former ninja.

As the ship slowly made its way out of the fog with only five miles to go, the Land of the Unknown revealed itself as if emerging from the pages of a fairytale. The sky above was clear with scattered clouds that allowed for maximum visibility. The sight was breathtaking. Before them was the Red Desert. Home to Eath-Vahn, the elemental city of Earth, and one of nine major capital cities that dot the continent. With a rich yet claylike soil, the sands of the Red Desert looked as if a giant Crayola crayon had swept across the land. Gigantic mountains loomed in the background. Most peaks were hidden in the desert haze or clouds that loomed around the mountains, but other peaks were fully visible. The most impressive sight, however, was the port city. Stretching all along the shore for as far as they eye could see, the port city was housing hundreds if not thousands of ships of all different kinds. Cruise ships, trade ships, military ships, and transport ships filled the bay as they waited for their ships to be loaded or unloaded with goods of all kinds.

All over the ship, sailors scurried about, getting to their positions and preparing for docking procedures. Directly ahead of the ship was an opening, and a dock specifically reserved for the Eclipse. Horns blew in the background, ships flashed their lights at each other, and the Eclipse started to drift ahead of the fleet. Several escort frigates came up to the ship from the docks, attached their tow cables, and started to lead the ship to its final destination.

"Oh, man can you believe it?! We're finally going to set foot on our new homeland!" Naruto shouted eagerly.

Sakura smiled and nodded, "I can hardly wait. I wonder what our first assignments will be."

"Who cares? So long as we finally get off this stinking ship I'll be happy." Naruto said.

Sakura rolled her eyes, and looked at Kakashi – who as usual had his nose stuck in a book. She sighed before asking, "Kakashi, don't you ever get tired of reading that same old book all the time? You've surely memorized it word for world by now."

Kakashi tore his attention from the page he was reading to look at Sakura. He smiled behind his mask and closed his eye, "It never hurts to re-read something."

"If you say so, Kakashi." Sakura said. She sighed and turned her attention to Alvis who was still sitting on Naruto's shoulders.

"Hey, what happened to 'Kakashi-Sensei'?" Kakashi asked.

Sakura chuckled and faced Kakashi again, "Because you're no longer a 'sensei', Kakashi. You're a Private in the Atlassian Army. You don't outrank us anymore."

Kakashi stared at Sakura blankly for a moment, then returned his attention to his book, "Well, that was morbid. Thanks, Sakura."

"No problem, Sensei."

Kakashi rolled his eyes to look at Sakura again and stared at her for a few moments. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh?"

Sakura giggled and stuck her tongue out at Kakashi, then walked to the other side of Naruto. She leaned on the railing of the ship and stared at the land before her. "It's beautiful isn't it?"

"I've seen things more beautiful than that." Naruto said.

Sakura smiled, and looked at Naruto, "Oh? And what exactly would you be talking about?"

Naruto laughed, and pointed his thumb over his shoulder, "Oh, I was just thinking about that fancy vas that's in the mess hall. It truly is a beautiful vase."

Sakura narrowed her eyes and playfully punched Naruto's shoulder, "Jerk! That was the wrong answer!"

Naruto chuckled and returned his view to the land ahead. "Man, can't this hunk a junk move any faster?"

Sakura giggled, and gently elbowed Naruto's side, "It's a ship, silly. They're not exactly built for speed."

Just then, a voice called out to the former ninja, and they turned to see Night Hawk standing on a deck above them. "Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi! Your presence is requested by Admiral Lynheart. He wants you on the bridge five minutes ago."

Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi stood at attention and saluted. "Aye, sir!"

"Well, what are you waiting for? MOVE!"

Without a second thought, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi rushed to the bridge of the Eclipse. Once they arrived, they saw the Admiral, Night Hawk, Jessica and the Admirals of the other capital vessels.

"You wanted to see us, sir?" Sakura asked as she and the others entered the bridge.

Admiral Lynheart turned to face the former ninja, "It's about damn time you three showed up. You're two and a half minutes late. I'm starting to wonder if I should even let you three graduate from basic training."

The former ninja stood in silence.

"Anyway, I want to talk to you about your performances over the last few months. I have to say I expected more from you Leaf ninja. For all the stories I've heard about your village and its military power I had some high expectations for you three. None of you met them."

"B-but sir!" Sakura started.

"Silence!" The Admiral shot back. He took a moment to clear his mind, then continued, "I know our training is on another level compared to what you three may be capable of coping with. But you've had a hard time handling even the weakest Atlassian recruit. How do you think you three would compare against the Agroneese? You'd be slaughtered before you even got a chance to put up your guard!"

"We…tried our best, sir." Naruto said.

The Admiral directed his stare towards Naruto, and instantly made him regret speaking out. "You know, Private Uzumaki, I don't want to hear a single peep from you most of all. You proved to be an absolute disgrace! You won five sparring matches over the course of three months. FIVE! How long do you think you'd last in a one on one against a member of the Agroneese? I can tell you right now that you wouldn't get the chance. You passed basic training with the absolute minimum requirements needed, and show little to no sign of improving your position! The only one among you three who I can event stand to look at right now is Kakashi, and that's not saying much. For your lack of drive and failure to show any signs of progression, the three of you can expect deck duty for the next week until I find an actual use for you."

"What are your orders, sir?" Sakura asked.

The Admiral turned his back to the former ninja and leaned on his strategy table as he started reading a map, "When the ship docks you three will stay behind to mod the deck and help the cooks in the mess hall. Now get out of my bridge."

The former ninja swallowed nervously, walked out of the bridge, and went their separate ways to prepare for their punishments.