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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Naruto that I put into this story except for my own OCs. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any. And remember to leave a review!
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Planning –
In the yard of the still being built fort of Waves, a female commander made her way to the tents of a squad of soldiers. After the rebirth of the empire many things have changed, one of them being women being allowed to serve in the army. As it was a woman who planted the seed of the rebirth. Women in the army have proven that they're as tough as men and are able to do what it takes to get missions done. And are found in every ranking in the army. (1)
Shasti was an incredibly sexy and stately warrior who could not fail to turn heads. Radiating a commanding aura, this woman of twenty-six made them feel very much like a small child when next to her beguiling beauty. An immaculately chiseled pale face was framed by locks of hair the hue of fresh fallen snow, contrasted with cold, piecing golden eyes and full, pouty lips that took on an ashen red color. Her soft pallid hair, wondrously devoid of any evidence of either travel or battle, was tied together into a long simple braid that traveled down the base of her back. A black eye-patch graced Shasti's left eye, intricately monogrammed with golden trimming and only served to amplify rather than detract from the experienced warrior's already considerable allure. The fitted banded mail that she wore accentuated the woman's curves and familiarity with battle, whose movements were still graceful and swift despite the armor's riveted protective plates. Everything about the captain's looks and demeanor commanded admiration but that was not all. Those who had the opportunity to witness Shasti abilities with her twin sabers strapped to her back, earning her respect and esteem as one whose skills matched or exceeded even their own.
In her line of work combat has become a bit dull. With the newer guns and sniper units to take out important targets. Many combat encounters are usually just bombing a village or just starving people into submissions by sealing off an area. The warfare she craves to see only happens in stories or those new moving pictures that's catching on back in the empire. Her sword skills are great but in the ever changing world of the Roman Empire the days of sword play is over. With the new gatling guns that can be carried instead of having to mount it, made people like her unneeded. But here in this new land where guns are a unknown element, her skills would come to play. Because in close combat especially in a middle of a group of enemies, they would have to be careful not to hit one of their own by mistake. While she can hit anyone she wants. (2) It's one of the reasons why soldiers still carry a gladius. As the newer model which turn it into a slashing single edge blade, is useful as a tool rather then a weapon. (3)
As she nears the tents she sees two of the young soldiers under her command. A pair of young soldiers a woman and a man, carried a wooden crate of can foods. One thing that hasn't changed since ancient times it that an army marches on their stomachs. With the introduction of processed meat and canning, food could be kept longer before spoiling. The young woman was a dark redhead; her hair was actually closer to orange than red. There was a smug look in her olive eyes and on her rounded, peach-colored face. While the blonde man is having trouble keeping up with the young woman's pace.
"Corporal Ron are you having trouble keeping up with Sergeant Kim?" Shasti ask addressing them by their ranks.
"No," Ron grunted.
"It's a good thing you're good with the cannons," Kim said.
"What can we do for you?" Ron ask.
"The general is entertaining some ninjas," Shasti said. "And he's been planning on sending a scouting party in learning about one of the ninja villages. My unit is the one who's going to go."
"About time you have a mission since you became a Decanus," Kim said.
"Yes it is. I want you to spread the word for the unit to get ready to travel," Shasti said.
"We're on it," Ron said.
"Good and make sure they eaten first. Who knows how far we will have to go," Shasti said. Like many of the Legionaries she has fatten up on the journey across the sea. As the most reliable supply train in their eyes is around their waists.
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In the Legion Headquarters -
General Drake treated the 4 Leaf ninjas to a meal with him. The ninjas were surprise of one of the eating utensils, the fork. He learned that the people of this land eat using sticks like the Eastern Empire of China. Drake sees the blonde kids stuffing himself with the pork chops and pork ribs. Meat it seems a luxury for only those who can afford it. Unlike back in the Empire where the introduction of factory like farms to mass breed farm animals for the demand for meat. With the factory like farms mass production of food gave raise to an increase population and many of the people who grew up afterwards are much stronger, taller, and healthier then the older generations.
"Your empire is expanding its boarders?" Kakashi ask.
"Yes we have expanded as far as we can back home without causing a war with our allies or other kingdoms. With the discovery of this land your people name the Element Countries, has gotten people excited back home. But don't think we're here to burn your village to the ground. We Romans have a long history of expanding without much bloodshed. Many rulers like the Lord of Waves agreed to join the Empire, they still rule as they have before it's just now they're apart of something bigger then they were before. Were still setting ourselves up before we can make arrangements to meet the lords of the Element nations to see if a deal can't be agreed upon," Drake explains.
"So your people won't need to fight," Kakashi said seeing how clever these Romans are. If they convince the lords of the lands to expect the rule of the Romans, then the Romans in turn wouldn't even have to fight to take over.
"Besides the fight against Gatuo's men we haven't seen any action. You see, I don't mind fighting to the death, but if there's another way, I'm willing to take it. In fact many lands that are now part of Rome had peacefully agreed to merged into the empire. And many have benefited thanks to our industrial capacity and safety that we provide. I understand that here you ninjas are sometimes hired to handle bandits. Well besides small gangs that pop up now and then our lands are bandit free," Drake said.
"Really?" Sakura ask.
"Then how do you army guys get paid?" Naruto ask thinking that they're paid like ninjas who are paid through the missions they complete. As he doesn't really know about armies.
"They aren't paid like us," Sasake said. "They're like the guards of lords."
"You can think of us in that way. You see we're a professional army, and once you sign up you serve for 25 years. A legionary's basic pay is 900 denarius, silver pieces per year. Some pay is held back for food and equipment, pension, and funeral savings. The balance is paid out roughly every three months. The pay before the industrial revolution was 300 but the pay was raised for inflation," Drake explains.
"Is being a soldier cooler then being a ninja?" Naruto ask.
"In the army you learn skills and are well taken care of. Not only do you earn money, you traveled with the legion to far off lands, and could comfortably retire after your service. Mostly the soldier's life is dull as we haven't had any real fighting for years now. We soldiers are mostly put to work in rebuilding the roads or new ones. We soldiers are the labor force called upon when a building project is needed to be built quickly. Like the bridge took us only a few days to build it," Drake said.
"Wait you're a labor force too?" Kakashi ask.
"We can't just train and train to be soldiers you know. We learned that lesson from the Spartans. They had the most grueling training from hell that we have ever seen. For you see from the very moment a Spartan male is born he is judge by an elder if he's healthy and strong enough to be a Spartan. If he isn't he would be drop down a cliff. And it just got harder from there. They were in their time the finest warrior race you could think of. For the only thing a Spartan male knows is how to be a warrior and nothing else," Drake said. (4)
"What happen to them?" Sakura ask.
"The only reason why they could maintain a warriors way of life is because they had enslaved another village to do the work needed for them to survive. And the fact that most of the boys are killed off at an early age because they couldn't survive the brutal training and their low birth rates. Left them unable to rebuild their forces after a defeat. As losing around 500 men destroyed their fighting force. Now what's left of them put up mock plays of the training and rituals that they were once famous for. Which is way since then no nation has tried to copy them as in the long term it would only lead to ruin," Drake explains seeing a twitch in the leader of the ninjas eye.
"You don't say," Kakashi said. He realized that if the Romans do indeed take over then many ninja clans would find their skills worthless. Unless they could make a living outside of being ninjas there be little use for them.
"I'm going to send a small number of my soldiers back with you. Their mission is to setup a small outpost in the Land of Fire and get in contact with the fire lord. And here's payment for this escort mission," Drake said handing Kakashi a bag of 400 silver coins.
"Thanks but I need to send a message first back to the village," Kakashi said looking over the coins. They're different from the money here but they're still made out of silver.
"Yes it has been a long journey for your group. You can stay for awhile and rest before going. One of the soldiers outside can show you where your group can stay till then," Drake said.
"Thanks for the meal," Naruto said as he follows the others out the door.
Drake waited for them to have been gone for a few minutes before getting up. He walks over to one of the side rooms and opens the door. Inside the room laying on a bed is Zabuza and next to him is Haku his young ward.
"Zabuza those ninjas are the same ones who you attack?" Drake ask.
"Yes they are," Zabuza said still recovering from his wounds. The Roman doctors aren't as skilled as the medical ninjas but they know how to treat wounds.
"Will the Leaf ninjas be any trouble?" Drake ask.
"They might as they will see you Romans as a threat to their livelihood. A ninja who has train since birth to be a ninja will have trouble in finding a new way of life. You have shown me what your weapons can do. While we're better train, it matters little. I'm skilled enough to fight off four ninjas at once, but against four of your soldiers. It would just take one lucky shot to kill me. And those cannons, being able to hit miles away, would be able to destroy a ninja village without you ever having to enter the walls. They will fight back and many will die on both sides. But unlike us you can easily rebuild from a lost on a scale that would destroy the fighting force of a ninja village," Zabuza said.
"How many ninjas are there in a village?" Drake ask.
"The most that a ninja village can field is around a 2000 at best," Haku said.
"The only power, I have seen that would give us trouble is the Genjustu you have shown me," Drake said.
"Your people can't use chakra so there be no defense against it," Haku said.
"Tell me how many runaway ninjas are there?" Drake ask.
"Why?" Zabuza ask.
"Because, I would like to hire them or any clan of ninjas who might like to join the Roman army," Drake said.
"You're going to hire ninjas and clans to fight with you?" Haku ask.
"It's one of the reasons why we're so good at expanding," Drake said. (5)
"I know some clans and ninjas who are willing to join you," Zabuza said thinking of how many people back in his village who wanted out.
"Good once you have recovered please get in contact with them. Oh yes another thing, I understand that your sword is able to dispell chakra right in any form it takes?" Drake ask.
"Yes it does," Zabuza answers.
"Then it can also dispell genjustu as well?" Drake ask again.
"Yes it can," Zabuza said realizing what Drake is getting at.
"How hard will it be to do the same to a helmet to protect it's wearer from genjustu?" Drake ask.
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Author's Notes -
1 – Roman Ranks
Private- the backbone of the legionaries.
Corporal - helps keep the lower rank soldiers in line.
Sergeant - lower rank officer is the one who leads a conturbenium of 8 soldiers.
Decanus - are legionaries who display leadership potential consistently in the field or in training. A Decanus has the authority to run small camps as well as act as a deputy for the local centurion. They command a unit of 16 soldiers.
Vexillarius - are the standard bearers that carries the vexillum, a military standard displaying the emblem of the Legion. The Vexillarius provide troops with a rallying point and morale during heated exchanges, but rarely are seen in combat.
Centurion - serve as field commanders during major operations. They are often appointed to their position through years of dedicated service and their martial prowess reflects the rigors they have endured. They command a century of 80 soldiers.
Prefect - officer in charge of keeping the fort or main camp running smoothly.
General - commands the one of the legions.
Legate - the commander of the Roman army that answers to the Emperor.
2 - That the only reason why conservation of ninjutsu fails. Because people have to be careful not to hit their own in a crowded fight. It's the reason why police and army personal don't just fire wildly when there's someone in the middle of their group. Because a misfire could kill one of their own.
3 - The new model of the gladius is that of a machete.
4 - In 'Deadliest Warrior' a Spartan beats a ninja hands down.
5 - One of the reasons why the Roman's were so good in conquering lands is that they're smart enough to get some natives to their side. Either for money or for power, people native to the new land join the Romans. The auxiliaries of the army are made up of none Roman citizens and when they're in a new land they would gather native people or tribes to join their side. And they don't just go out on the attack but try to talk people into joining them, which means there will be clans and villages who are weaker then the other villages who will join the Romans.
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