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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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In the middle of the desert of the Land of Wind, is Hex City home base of Stampede. The former Hidden Village was rebuilt after the one tail demon destroyed the village and killing many of the people that once lived there. The X shape starship now stood in the middle of the city, where Stampede and his minions lorded over the people of the city. The city is an industrial ghetto, where life is cheap and you can find just about anything for the right price.
The city is sitting an a large deposit of kerium and is what brings people to the city. Stampede controls the mines as all others who tried to mine his kerium are quickly and brutally dealt with. Casinos, black markets, red light districts, bars, unlicensed doctors, and not so safe space ports littered the city. With the planet Shinobra a major spaceport between the two space governments, in places like this the credits flowed in from the ill-gotten loot brought in. (1) The city is the hangout for pretty much every illegal and semi-legal shipping crews on the planet. The only thing keeping the order is Stampede and his forces, who wants to keep both governments on the planet with him from paying him too much attention. For a safe harbor for the outlaws to rest and sell their ill gotten loot, they have to pay a portion of their loot to Stampede. For those who cause trouble in his city, his forces cracks down hard on behaviour that might attract the attention of outside authorities.
The factories that refined the kerium are all nightmare factories, that goes beyond the typical sweatshop aspects of long hours, slave wages, and no OSHA compliance. Most of the workforces are robots so safety isn't really an issue as they can just make more robots. But there are flesh and blood workers who toll under the watchful eyes of the robotic drones. They did the jobs that needed a flexible worker to do. But most of the work in the factories are done by drones while the less important work is left to the flesh and blood workers. They also refine the bits of metal found in the kerium ore. The waste produced from the unregulated processing of the kerium has caused the city to be heavily polluted. The soil is so saturated with heavy metals that it's mineable. Which is done by people who shift through the waste of the factories for anything that they can sell, which leads to many deaths.
The bodies that build up in the city aren't wasted as cleanup crews gather the bodies and take them to a factory. There the bodies are dump into nutrient vats, yellowish brine pools, that liquefies the bodies and used as fertilizer for the factory farms that produces the food for the city. Food besides kerium is a big trade item as most foods on a spaceship is considerably worse than planetside. Fresh food doesn't last long on ships and takes up too much space on long trips, so artificial or long lasting food that is compact is the norm. Even with the newest spaceships on the market, some trips still take months to complete. And that the robochefs onboard most of the ships uses the crew's waste to produce the meals. Which is the reason why most crews only eat that stuff when they run out of other sources of food and why good cooks are very valuable. The food factory produces nutrition bars that are sold to support the newer colonies on other planets that can't survive entirely on their own. The ration bars are much more valuable as trade goods, especially as each one can feed a family of four for a month.
The city is powered by the kerium power plant that is also the source of power for Stampede. For he controls the power that runs the city, which everyone living in the city depends on. The chakra seals that once powered much of the Element Lands became useless once Trekrack died and the lion's share of chakra went with him. The few powerplants that didn't depend on chakra to run, became the only source of power for many places. While others settlements went dark, without power or water. It only changed when the Krang and the G.C. came to the planet. With them on the planet Stampede's forces couldn't do as they pleased as the did before. And they brought with them powerplants that uses what the people of the planet once thought to be useless red rocks. And with the government back settlements the infrastructures and industries quickly replaced the schizo tech that the native people once knew. Which was deliberately suppressed so that the ninja way of life could be maintained.
In a heavily guarded factory is one of the reasons why Stampede has been able to hold a stalemate with both the space governments on the planet. The security droid factory produces droids by the hundreds, and with some illegal upgrades made the droids much more dangerous. The droids standard weapons are now disintegrator guns instead of the Neutra-laser blasters they use to be armed with, that are now secondary weapons. The ninjas the main fighting force of the Element Lands quickly got the message across that Stampede isn't to be mess with, as the ones who tried were quickly killed with the one shot blasters any unshielded targets.
Inside the Hexagon summoned the leaders of his minions. They met in his central chambers deep within the ship. Kaguya who after being freed from Treeracks control has become one of his minions. So has Orochimaru both of whom lead the ninjas who joined his side, as he gave the ninjas who serve him back the power they lost. The ninjas who gain their powers back also found themselves leased as Stampede revealed when Kakuzu tried to betray him by killing him. Took back the power he gave Kakuzu and with a wave of his hands cast a spell that completely depowered Kakauzu remaining chakra leaving him powerless. Stampede revealed that once he gives power he can take it and the power the being had before. Stampede then had the powerless Kakuzu drag into the middle of the city and shot in the back of the head and left there. The ninjas ideas of betraying Stampede quickly left their minds after seeing one of the most powerful ninjas reduced to nothing and killed in front of them like a common thug. (2)
Then there's the only remaining demon holder who wasn't killed and the demon taken off planet, Gaara. He found once all the other ninjas lost most of their chakra that he alone was the only one in his village who was still at full strength. Seeing that there wasn't anyone in the village who could pull off any jutsus that could stop him, he took his revenge on the village. The bloodbath gain Stampede's notice as he was nearby at the time. He appeared in front of Gaara and made him an offer to join him, which Gaara agreed to. The villagers that remained were enslaved and force to work the mines and factories wearing collars around their necks that gives them a shock or if they get out of line blow their heads off. (3) Of the Sand ninjas the only ones left are his brother Kankuro and sister Temari. Stampede has given Gaara complete control over the one tail demon inside of him, allowing him to sleep without losing control of the demon.
"So boss what you called us for?" Tex Hex ask.
"I summon you all here to tell you what to do with Windstarr," Stampede said knowing like her parents she will do what she can to stop him while remaining within the law. "She is a very powerful magic user and is like her parents."
"That's just great. We left New Texas just to get away from the likes of Bravestarr and his daughter is now here to do the same," Tex Hex growled.
"You want us to kill her?" Gaara ask.
"No. None of you do anything to harm her. Use the neutra-lasers on her if you see her. With her father being a hero as he is and well known. Her death could give the G.C. what it needs to launch an attack on us," Stampede stated.
"Are they really that powerful?" Kaguya ask.
"You have only seen the ones station on this planet which are little in force the same as with the Krang. That's only because neither side wants to act if they're getting ready to take the planet for themselves. And only sent a small number of soldiers to guard the settlements under their control. I have seen the army they have for both sides and it will not be a battle if either one sends a fleet to attack us. There have been others like me before and thinking that they have nothing to fear is the reason why, I'm the only one left," Stampede stated.
"So we just leave her alone?" Orochimaru ask.
"I want all of you to spread the order to all your underlings. Not to kill Windstarr, if any do then my protection will be gone and, I'll deliver the one who killed her to the G.C. myself to face their judgement. For, I will not be taken down like all the others of the likes of me just because an underling couldn't control themselves. And Orochimaru, I'll be watching you incase you get any ideas to use her as a test subject to learn magic," Stampede said glaring at the leader of the Sound Village.
"I understand," Orochimaru said seeing that Stampede won't let anything to upset the balance. He has seen how Stampede has played the careful game of maintaining his powerbase while not angering the two other powers on the planet. He's well aware that in the grand plan of things that ninjas like him are nothing but prawns. He's only able to use chakra or magic as it's called with the rest of the galaxy because of Stampede. He's trying to fix that by learning to use magic the right way, but with the knowledge he has managed to gather from off world. Everything he knew about chakra/magic he has to throw out the window and relearn everything. Then there's how Stampede is well known off planet but with him being unknown the governments won't think twice in sending soldiers to take care of him one way or another.
"Remember what happen to Kabuto when he thought he could steal from me," Stampede said.
"I remember," Orochimaru said. He remembered it quite well having been there to see it himself.
Kabuto had broken away from the Sound Village not wanting to serve Stampede. He formed a bandit gang and did quite well for himself for a time. But then he tried to steal from Stampede. Which cause Stampede to send his droids to track down him and his gang in short order. Kabuto was brought forth in front of Stampede in front of the Hexagon. He had watched as Stampede hand burst in flames reducing the bar of pure platinum to a glob of rolling liquid metal. Pouring it into the goblet he held in his other hand. He turn to watch as Kabuto's hateful expression rapidly dissolve into fear. And watch as Stampede force Kabuto's mouth open and poured the contents of the goblet down his throat.
No one after that dared to steal from Stampede.
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Land of Water -
Jiraiya and Tsuande stood in a phone booth contacting the Hokage back in the village. One thing they like about all the changes happening on their world is how easy it is to get in touch with someone using a phone. What took days now took seconds, which is another reason why no one hires ninjas to do anything but guarding shipments anymore.
"He learned what his parents did to him. I was afraid of that. With him knowing what happen to him, he won't be easy to win over," the Hokage said.
"It's worse than that. When the fox was separated from him, his chakra network was completely destroyed. He can't ever use chakra," Tsuande said.
"You're sure?" the Hokage ask shock.
"He told us when we met him. I didn't get close enough to see if he's telling the truth but it doesn't matter. He's working with the lawmen of the G.C. we can't make him do anything without getting us in trouble with the lawmen," Jiraiya said having spent enough time in a G.C. jail cell to know not to mess with them. His jail time happen to be for him peeking on women while in G.C. controled lands.
"Then that path is close to us," the Hokage sighed.
"Without chakra Naruto won't be able to complete what fate has chosen him to do," Jiraiya said.
"You two return as soon as you can," the Hokage said. "We just have to think of another plan."
"There has to be a way to restore his chakra," Jiraiya said.
"No there isn't and if there is none of us can use the chakra needed to use it. The only thing, I can think of is someone from another world. But with how things are we don't have any contacts with anyone who uses magic. The ones we do are a no go," Tsuande said.
"Good point," Jiraiya said as the only contacts he has are on the planet. His books are still selling but turns out there are just as good or even better writers out there. He still has a fan base but with so much newer stuff coming in and not just in book form, he's not as well known as he once was.
"Before you return it will be nice if you two pick up somethings we need," the Hokage said.
"Like what?" Jiraiya ask.
"Hinata would like a blue semiconductor and a green transducers. It's to upgrade the main computer and according to her the there was a shipment delivered to Land of Water a few days ago. You know how she is in the up keep of the computer," the Hokage said.
"We'll do what we can," Tsuande said as Hinata while not much of a ninja quickly became the head tech head of the village. She has a natural talent to use computers that others didn't in the village. Her father didn't like it but with his clan having lost their blood limit and they couldn't see all around them anymore, there was no point in keeping up clan traditions anymore. Most of the branch members left the main clan's home to live elsewhere in the village as they no longer have any birdcage seal on them anymore, which disappeared along with their blood limit.
"I also see if, I can't find any scavenger bots in the junk shops," Jiraiya said as those things come in handle gathering up the smaller pieces of kerium. (4)
"Good, I'll see you two later," the Hokage said cutting off the feed.
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Over the sea near Land of Water -
Naruto flew the hovercar with Windstarr sitting next to him. They're on their way to the floating port of Gargantia. It's a massive port made from the scraps of others ships, both from this planet and from space. The port was created early on the settling of the planet by Stampede and has been expanded upon since then. To be a port for all the deep sea miners, as well as more shady dealings that people don't want either governments to know about. As it's a ocean port it attracts races that are more at home in water than on land. The port is overseen by Big Time and Slimema the only two water breathers serving Stampede. And guarded by a host of droids built for water operations. And like all the other droids under Stampede's control, the ninjas quickly learned how deadly they are. (5)
"What's so special about this space junk that was fished out by that salvage ship?" Naruto ask Windstarr.
"Have no idea but whatever it is is giving out a distress signal using an old S.O.S. code that hasn't been used for hundreds of years," she answers.
"You think it's part from the generation ship?" Naruto ask. The old generation ship was found years ago by the Krang and allowed some G.C. researchers to look over it to discover what era it came from. But the ship having spent over a thousand years underwater has been all but destroyed by the sea. Only the black box which was built to last and last was left that's still useable.
"Won't know till we land," Windstarr said seeing the massive port up ahead.
"Do they know we're coming?" Naruto ask.
"Yes they do. It is their port after all. We're expected at the landing pad 8," Windstarr said.
"Right," Naruto said as he flies over the port and heads for landing pad 8 following the large numbers painted on the pads.
On the landing pad stood Slimema and Big Time along with some droids waiting for them, Naruto landed on the hovercraft and both he and Windstarr step out. With Windstarr carrying a briefcase with her. In front of the two minions is a large metal container.
"You gotten much bigger since we last saw you," Slimema greeted Windstarr.
"And it's strange to see you without that suit you use to wear," Windstarr greeted back.
"This planet isn't a desert and, I'm free to move around without drying out," Slimema said.
"You're father never did have to deal with us fighting at full strength," Big Time said as both he and Slimema had to be careful not to lose too much water. But here on this planet and them being on a floating platform on an ocean. They're in their element all the time and able to fight better then they could have on New Texas.
"Are we doing the deal or not?" Windstarr ask.
"You got the money?" Slimema ask.
"Yes," Windstarr said as she opens the case to reveal a plastic card. "One credit chip with 50000 on it."
"Then we have a deal," Slimema said as she takes the chip. "Now take it and leave."
"Well do," Windstarr said as she uses strength of a bear to lift the container and place it in the back of the hovercraft.
Slimema watch as they flew back to Land of Water.
"Windstarr is going to be a problem," Big Time said.
"She is way too much like her parents," Slimema agreed.
"What is in that container?" Big Time ask.
"Don't care. All, I care about is getting money for a hunk of junk," Slimema said. "The money is good and, I'm not going to bother with it. We got paid and that's all that matters."
"Good point," Big Time said.
"And whatever is in there is their problem now," Slimema said.
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Author's Notes -
1 –Credits work as they do in Mass Effect. Every planet and government has it's own currency with credits just short hand exchange rate for money.
2 - The ninjas if they betray Stampede he can at anytime at any place can take his power back from them and take what power they had before. So any ninja will lose any remaining chakra they had if they betray him.
3 - The collars have the same effect as the ones that enable Red King to make the Hulk into his slave for a time.
4 - Like the ones in Dead Space 3.
5 - One very good reason why the ninjas get slaughtered by the droids and other machines, is that they're not alive. Meaning they don't attack with any ill intent, and the ninjas can't detect them using their ninja senses because of that.
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