Okay, another chapter of Crusader, I'll try to make another chapter before I get back to the viking story. Also this chapter is pretty much a filler since the main story requires the Capture Mizuki arc to come into play. So there is this, and probably a time skip afterwards. Also some will be asking why Naruto still pulls pranks despite the fact that the village likes him and tolerates him.

Well simple, Pranks are fun, and its not going to be constant, as it will only be when people deserve it.

NARUTO

Naruto had to admit, while at first he was skeptical about this whole templar thing. When he started to read through these old tomes. He couldn't help but be fascinated by the history. Ranging from their formation all the way up to this last crusade he read about. So far, he could see why Jacques said they would need to be redeemed. The Templar's while fascinating were far from perfect. While it would appear they were apart of the defensive forces to secure this holy land and prevent further invasions, it did not mean they were all good. There were a few massacres here and there, and they also took their fair share of lives. Still though it was when they were burned at the stake that Naruto turned green. The things they were forced to confess to under duress, it was horrifying. And all of it was because of a monarch who was in debt to them decided to take advantage of their dwindling support.

So while their history was certainly filled with blood, Naruto couldn't help but be fascinated by them. It had been a few months since he had discovered this place and had begun training in their weapons. Granted, he was skeptical at first, but once again, Jacques trusted him to redeem them. And he was going to do it, besides he never really wanted to be a shinobi, however he decided to take the old man hokage up on his deal, for one reason and one reason only.

The Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Naruto wasn't stupid, he read up on Christianity, and while he wouldn't consider himself a Christian yet. He knew what would happen if word got out that he was practicing a religion that was not of Shinto. He read about the Crusades, and the conflict between the Muslims and the Christians, and he feared that would happen again. The last thing he wanted was to get sucked into a holy war. He just hoped he didn't meet any crazy religious zealots who were out for blood or into human sacrifice. That would be crazy.

He was training in their weapons, but so far all he had to go on where occasional visions, and some of the old tomes that instructed him on how to fight like them. But the shadow clone jutsu was key in his plans. Not only was it great for reconnaissance, but when he had read up about it in the library, he had read that it could even transfer memories to the user. With that, he could cut his training time in half, at least for muscle memory and overall mental learning. However, it would not make him physically stronger as clones were not flesh and blood, but pure chakra.

But the clones served another purpose, Naruto knew that one Templar was dangerous, as they were trained how to fight for their lives, especially in a harsh desert climate and constantly fighting off their enemies as well as occasional assassins. (1)

But he also learned about how they could fight in numbers, some men while receiving a basic training, would be suited for other tasks. Some would act as scouts, some would act as crossbowman, some would act as cavalry on horses, and some would be behind the swordsman with spears. All while being followed by siege weapons such as the ballista. All of which would be imperative if another shinobi war ever happened. In fact, he could think of a very good example.

Right now, there was a civil war going on in The Village hidden in the mist, and the main problem was that the bloodline exterminators were held up in the capital, which was nearly impregnable, and due to the rebels being few in number and having to rely on the land, it was getting harder for them to fight back against the tyrant who ruled over them.

On top of all that, Naruto was not just reading up on the crusades and the templars. But he was also learning about the people they fought against, particularly Saladin the Great. He figured that it would be wise to look at the military strategies of both the Grandmasters of the templar, as well as a famous leader amongst the Saracens. One group he noticed reminded him of shinobi was an organization called the Hashishin. Or translated into his language, the Assassins. People who killed from the shadows. While they lacked chakra, it didn't stop them from being a pain in the ass to both sides.

While he could learn from them, he definitely would not want to be a part of their shady organization.

"I better get back home." He said as he packed up the tomes in his backpack and got ready to go back home.

The villagers had been giving him odd looks lately, mostly because he had been carrying around a lot of books as well as a broadsword that he had taken from the weapons rack. He had a shield as well, but he kept it sealed away on his arm. After all, he may have gotten strange looks for the sword, but he was certain people would think he was odd if they saw him carrying a shield with a cross on it. Obviously he did not think the world was ready to find out the truth about the past.

Once again, he was trying to avoid people going crazy and trying to spread the truth in a wrong way. As soon as he got into his apartment he laid down on the couch. He started the Ninja academy tomorrow, and while he still didn't want to join it, he knew that if he ever wanted to get out of the village and try to do some right in the world, he would probably need a shinobi travel pass, especially since he needed to get out as soon as possible. And there was no way he could do that as a civilian.

He yawned and fell asleep. Tomorrow was a big day.

THE NEXT DAY

"Ha! What a klutz!" Naruto saw a group of girls knocked a pink haired girls books over.

"Jerks..."He muttered under his breath as he went over to help.

"Let me help wi-" He said as the girl cut him off.

"No please! I mean..thank you, but uh, I'm waiting for someone else to help." She said as Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, someone else to help?" He said not understanding what she meant.

"Yes...him..." She said as she saw a dark haired boy.

"The one guy over there with the dark eyes and hair? I don't think he saw you..." He said as she was off in dream land.

"Er...Okay well, Good luck and haven fun with that!" He said as he started to walk away.

"I will!" She said as Naruto had never felt this confused.

"Well thats strange, I've heard of hoping your crush will help you, but dang thats a little strange." He said as he walked into the classroom.

"Doesn't mean I can't teach those bullies some manners though." He said as he looked for the group.

"According to that book I read, they said Jesus turned the other cheek, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind a little prank on them..." Naruto chuckled in an evil tone as he got to plan his next attack.

"Hey Naruto!" Shikamaru said as he walked up to his friend.

Naruto had met Shikamaru a while ago, when he was walking through the village, he was hauling some stuff back to his apartment from the cave, nothing like weapons, mostly books and certain other items. Shikamaru had been bored, so Naruto had asked him if he would be interested in a game of chess. Of course, Shikamaru had never heard of the game before, so he had spent a good ten minutes explaining how the game worked. The sad part was that Shikamaru had beaten him nine times out of ten as soon as he got the hang of it. Seriously, he may look lazy, but he was really good at any games that required thought and strategy.

"Hey Shik, I'm surprised you're here so early." He said as Shikamaru's mother walked up behind him.

"He didn't have a choice." She said with a smirk.

"Hi Mrs. Nara, where is Mr. Nara? I thought he would be taking Shikamaru to the academy today?" He asked as Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head.

"He's...out of commission for now." She said as she remembered what happened this morning.

Her husband was being lazy, so she hit him with a frying pan and he ended up passing out...seriously, the man had one time been on a mission where he had been buried alive, and he got knocked out by a bitch slap with a frying pan, for an elite shinobi he really had a glass head.

"Well, hope he gets better!" Naruto said not knowing what had happened.

"Anyways, come on Shika, we better get in there." He said as Shikamaru sighed.

"Do you have to call me that nickname?" He asked as Naruto nodded.

"Geez, Naruto really is like his mother...if only she could see him now. If only the fox hadn't completely incinerated her that night..." Yoshino thought with a sad look on her face.

"EEEWWWWW! WHAT IS THIS?!" She heard a girl yell as a group of them ran out with some brown sludge covering them.

"One day...Not even one day, and he's pulling pranks...oh god what is that smell? Is...No...No, I am leaving now, I want no part of this." Yoshino thought as she turned around and left.

AFTER THE DAY

Naruto was fairly disappointed. Sure they had physical training that day, but for the most part it was theory and history. Which he could see the value of, but the lack of physical training was a huge bummer. Sure you couldn't do too much for kids their age, but still. Even another hour of running, push ups, sit ups, and more basic exercises could really benefit them. Luckily however, this wasn't the only way Naruto had to spend his time.

He headed back to his apartment where he had been keeping multiple texts on swordsmanship, but then he had to go back to the cave to actually pick a sword. He settled on a broadsword and kite shield. The only problem was that they weren't made for him, while he could certainly use them, he would not be able to use them as well as he had hoped because they had been made specifically for one of the dead templars. He would use those weapons until he could have a shield and sword specifically forged for him. But he didn't know where he was going to do that, he couldn't afford going to a blacksmith, so he better hope something comes up by a miracle.

"End him rightly?" Naruto asked as he looked at an old manuscript.

Apparently it said you had to unscrew the pommel of your sword and throw it at someone...this wasn't a joke, it was right there in ink. Did someone actually think that would work? He skipped that page and continued to read.

Afterwards, he practiced basic movement while wielding the sword and shield. It was a little awkward to get used to at first due to the weight and size, but eventually his body got used to the weight. Although it did leave him sweating heavily at the end of his exercise.

"And to think, the knights used to train with armor on..." He said to himself as he wiped the sweat off of his brow.

That was another problem, while there was plenty of armor he could use, the problem remained that none of it fit him just yet. He still had to grow another foot before he could even wear the chain mail without it looking like a dress on him. The only thing he could really wear was a helmet. And there was really no point in wearing it if he couldn't wear the full set.

"Well, I better get some sleep, another day tomorrow." He said as he laid down in bed, and to help lull him to sleep. He read a few chapters from his book on Saladin the Great.

This was going to be a long six years until he could graduate.

(1) Once again, The Hashashin were a pain to both Crusaders and Saladin