Naruto read the news that Chang An has fallen. The city was practically defenseless against the massacre that the newly minted Jin forces undertook in securing the city. Men, women and children all killed just because they showed some form of loyalty to the old ruler, Liu Bei.

Liu Bei. Naruto remembered him well. He introduced Xing Cai and his son, Liu Chan, interfered with a lot of his time with her alone. "Preserving her chastity," he so eloquently put it one time after he sense him on their date.

Seeing the big map in front of him, he slammed his fist on the table in front of him with authority. "Unacceptable," the young emperor yelled out to his war council, "Why wasn't our border secured?"

The Commander of the Five Posts turned his head in shame, having no answers. He was quickly followed by the commanders of the North, South, Left and Right, each having no answers.

Suddenly, the Prime Minister spoke up, "My lord, do you not see the road?"

Naruto glanced at the road that leads out of Chang An, and makes a startling discovery, Chang An shared a border with Wei and Wu, so logically, it would mean that it would be a prime target for anyone wanting a path to the Northern Alliance. But since the unification of Shu and the Namikaze Empire, the game has changed.

Naruto turned to the Commander of the Five Posts, "Do we even have a plan to secure Chang An and wipe Jin off the map, one that doesn't involve killing the leader? We need him alive to answer for his crimes against the Namikaze Empire."

The Commander of the Five Posts spoke up, "Lord Naruto, my apologies, but without the assistance of either Wei or Wu, there is nothing that we can do in short order."

"How long does it take to get a few battalions up there and retake the city?"

"It is currently autumn, so even if they moved at a steady rate, they will be ill prepared to fight a winter battle."

"I see. Very well, we will let him think that he has won for now. Leave me."

The war tribunal quickly left, fearing Emperor Naruto's wrath, however, Naruto was more angry with himself than anything else. Taking the short distance in the palace to his throne, he was greeted by two messenger HAWKS. Taking the first scroll, he read the report that there are some foreigners in Wave, and the second was his sister Ino's report about the men. Summoning another HAWK squad, he issued the order that they are to accompany him to Wave. He wanted to talk to the men himself.

Wave District

Governor's House

Three Days Later

"Your Imperial Highness, you can't be serious about talking to the two men yourself," Tazuna said in an attempt to dissuade him.

"Can you not feel it," Naruto countered, "The natural energy of the land will be slowly dying out soon. We will not be able to use chakra in seven or so generations by my estimation when the barrier truly falls. We need something to protect ourselves when the time comes."

"And what would that be, Brother," Ino chimed in.

"Weapons. I received a missive three days ago that one of the cities in my new territory has fallen to a new force called Jin. As things stand now, I can't do anything about taking back the city until Spring, but if we get new arms from our two friends that we have sitting in our city jail, we might be able to change the balance of power and take back the city in a winter attack."

"That's unthinkable, brother."

"If we leave Jin unchecked, he will destroy the empire. Do you want that to happen?"

"Well no, but,"

"But nothing," Naruto cut her off, "Bring me our two friends."

One hour later saw Admiral John Smith and Captain Mark Andrews brought before Emperor Naruto.

"Now I am going to ask you a few simple questions," Naruto started, "answer truthfully or else that little show by my sister will be the least of your troubles." After getting nods from the men, Naruto continued, "question one, what drove you to find this land?"

Captain Mark Andrews spoke up for the two men, "Your imperial highness, your land has surfaced on our planetary scans for a while. We were under orders to be an ambassador of good will to the land."

A quick glance at Ino proved that he was telling the truth, though that much was written in Ino's initial report. Naruto carefully phrased his next question, "What are your intentions now that you found this land?"

"We will return to our land and open negotiations for a trading alliance."

At a Ino nod, Naruto asked his final question, "Will a man of the blade be handling the talks or will a man of nobility be handling the talks?"

"I am not sure what you mean, Your highness?"

"Will a warrior be handling the talks or will a man of nobility be handling the talks?"

"We don't know."

"They are telling the truth," Ino told him.

Naruto issued this edict, "You two tell your leaders that I want a warrior to be your representative in these talks. And you will teach him before hand our language so that Ino doesn't have to mind dive again. You are free to leave to your vessel."

Now unbound, the Navy men did just that as Naruto was playing with his trinket. The trinket itself was nothing special, but it was one of the most cherished prizes of the Sarutobi clan. The monkey summons created that for Hiruzen to give to Naruto as a way to mark his status as a protectorate of the clan, a job that he did very well since Asuma died. Little Hiruzen and Konohamaru both looked up at him at a young age as the ninja symbol to look up to. Since becoming emperor, he found that he had little time for his faux-sons. "I guess I will have to change that," he muttered, before he left for the capital again.