The Last of Naruto
Important notes:
*Important* I thought over the idea of Naruto's age and I think I made him a little young when entering the community so I will be going back eventually to change his age to 7 from his previous age of 6 when he meets Cassandra and enters the community. Naruto then is age 8 when he leaves. Naruto wanders around and the events pertaining to this chapter happens several months later when he is 9. I plan to have him meet riley as well after some time, likely at age 10, how? Well you'll have to wait and see. You may think the timeframe is cutting it close, but it seems more realistic at age 7 when he enters the dimension.
For Ellie the age won't change and it would mean by approximation that Naruto would be 2 years older than her. This means during the actual game ark he will be 16 while Ellie 14. The romance is still doable in terms of age.
Regardless the change shouldn't affect the story at all, rather the move may seem pointless change since its only 1 year error, but this year would mean a more developed physiology that would be more adaptable to the described lifestyle like being able to handle guns with bigger hands.
I should set up a timeline of events, but I can't be bothered. If there is a problem pm me or review and detail the problem so I'll fix it when I can.
*Important *If you find any mistakes can you please email or review it immediately as I need to take note of it for when I do a massive re-edit.
Comments:
Umbrass, Collin Oshea, pullbackbro, marco2o, TotalyAnonymous, guardian of inheritance, Famous FF Writer and Guest: Thanks for the positive reviews, you help inspire me to continue writing.
Umbrauss: Never thought of giving him such high powered guns. Guess you'll have to wait and see, but most likely no since I don't think I saw it in the game and production would have stopped for those types of weapons.
LordGhostStriker: Don't worry things will improve. Just creating an outline of Naruto's background to the Last of Us universe.
YuNarukami1995: Your right it was a bit of a troll chapter, but it had to be separated, simply cause it won't fit with this or the previous chapter. As for funny, it wasn't meant to be…
Wrandral: Yes I know it is a fungus that infects the brain. But no matter the way you look at it, it works like a virus, just bigger and doesn't effect the blood, only carried through the blood stream and into the brain causing mutations. Could you be more specific where I made the mistake?
I looked over my past chapters and noticed my writing capability has progressively improved. Yay, congratulations to myself.
Naruto age 9
Ellie age 7
Riley age 9
Years into time skip: 13
Years until actual arc: 7
The Ark of Truth Finale.
Third POV
1 year and several months later
Naruto was currently traversing through one of the alleyways of Boston's quarantine zone as he followed Tess and Joel from the distance. He was curious of his new surroundings having been smuggled in during the night and having to wait for Joel and Tess to attain his fake identification credentials. It was simply suicide to go directly to the military for the proper credentials, especially since examinations were involved and questions of his origins would be raised, so instead the group settled with attaining fake credentials for Naruto to travel the streets.
How? Simple, Tess pulled some favors and various black market dealings to get the credentials. Of course it cost a lot of ration cards and he would have to work it off, but he was confident he could do so.
As of the moment he, Tess and Joel had a delivery to make and with him being new to the business he had to follow them till he was properly familiarised with the city.
He looked forward, eyes carefully darting around to find anything suspicious while maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanor to ward off any attention. He tensed when he noticed a guard patrolling on the rooftop, but relaxed as no attention was diverted onto him.
He may be a ninja, but he wasn't experienced in black market dealings, especially in a new world with a different form of military presence.
Currently he was an illegal immigrant on his first official day in conducting high-risk smuggling operations in and out of Boston. A smuggler who was illegally processed by the wrong people and if caught would bring about a whole new set of problems.
1: Appearing as a young child he could get out of trouble and undergo integration procedures, then made into a proper civilian of the quarantine zones. However that was after passing through rigorous medical procedures and inspections that would likely give away his unique biology, which was another problem itself. If he managed to bypass the medical procedures and inspections resulting in successfully integration after some time, it would likely result in him being sent to a military training center or 'camp for children' after all he was an orphan. He would be under constant surveillance and would lack the freedom to do much of anything.
And that's if they don't find out about his secret smuggling job and abilities.
2: If he was caught, processed and discovered to have medical discrepancies compared to the average human, he may be let into the community with the likelihood of forced military service entailing constant surveillance or live the rest of his life as a lab rat. Then again that was only if they could capture him first after all anyone would resist such a fate. This in turn would reveal his abilities starting up a man-hunt to find out his secrets from various parties including the military, the fireflies and prospecting parties wanting to take advantage of the find. This would definitely happen if they found out his natural immune system was resistant to all form of viruses, parasites and fungus. Fortunately he hadn't told anyone that yet, even his new co-workers Tess and Joel, though he knew they suspected something.
Sure it would be a major boon for humanity, but the stark differences in his DNA meant that any form of artificial replication to a attain a solution for the populace would result in failure. Naruto was not about to loose his life over something that wasn't likely to work, but as usual there was a way for his immunity to pass on and that was through having children.
Naruto shuddered at the thought of what he would be subjected to for his reproductive DNA and what his children would go through in the name of science.
3: Naruto could be immediately killed. As far as things go he was committing a major crime by smuggling in weapons and various provisions in and out of the quarantine zone. As such if he was caught in the act he would be deemed a criminal, his bounty posted all over the city, hunted and eventually forced to reveal more of his abilities just to survive intensifying the hunt yet again.
He sighed at all the prospects of trying to integrate into the community. Sure the community wasn't perfect, but it would be a whole new dynamic to explore after all this military society functioned differently than that of the elemental nations and being a proper civilian would allow him certain benefits, rather than acting in the shadows.
Looking forward he sped up to maintain a good distance with Tess and Joel. Naruto looked around the alleyways he just entered noticing the minuet details of the run down buildings, trash scattered all over the place and the overfilled bin. The buildings were dirty with cracks running down the walls, while others had bullet holes from firefights. As usual most windows were broken and have been boarded up and nailed down with wooden planks or left alone. Some windows still had air conditioners pertaining to the lost technological prowess of the past. Of course they weren't working either being in disrepair or the lack of electricity available for use.
Naruto noticed 2 civilians, one man and one woman talking by the overfilled bin and piles of trash stacked on each other. He decided to listen in on their conversation, discreetly of course.
"Wait you serious?" The man said surprised.
"I got served the damn papers this morning, *sigh* I've been selected for outside work duty". The female replied calmly before her tone changed to one of frustration and exhaustion with a strong hint of sarcasm.
"It's such crap. Soldiers are supposed to handle the outside"
"I'll make sure to tell them that"
Naruto had heard from Tess and Joel that the majority of military patrolling the streets were actual children from camp brought up to fight for the military, evident by the way they were organised, how they moved and how young they appeared. These were the ones meant to crackdown on any smugglers and firefly personnel and were loyal only to the military.
With all the recent rebellious activity happening most capable military personnel were being diverted to the safe zones. Naruto found it sad seeing those that patrolled the outskirts were now comprised mainly of civilians rushed into service from either being 'commissioned' due to the military number gap or with the need to survive and attain ration cards, the current form of currency inside the safe zones.
Naruto passed through the gate which Tess opened and traversed through the narrow alleyway full of garbage and broken furniture. He noticed a rusted sign opposite to the gate that hung crookedly on the wall. Most noticeable about it was the red spray-painted words 'FREE', a sign of the extent of military oppression. He looked left and noticed another spray paint sign in white and in capitals 'SEEK THE FIRE'.
He trudged down the alleyway passing more garbage pilled on an overstuffed bin and more boarded up windows as he walked onto the street. As he entered Naruto immediately took note of the military guards posted in front, one on the roof and 2 more on the opposite side of the street. They were in their standard assault rifles and decked out in bluish combat ware with the vest armor and helmet.
Suddenly a military Humvee passed on the road with a microphone in front
"Attention. Citizens are required to carry a current ID at all times. Compliance with all city personnel is mandatory".
He looked again at the landscape taking note of the slightly crooked transmission pole and the wire and cement barricades set up. As expected none of the buildings looked like they had undergone any form of maintenance since the outbreak.
"Look at that. Ration line hasn't opened yet. Must be running low again". Tess said natural to the situation while leaning on a cement barricade waiting for Naruto to catch up.
He noticed the people lining up in front of the building frustrated at the lack of movement.
"Hey. How much longer?" a female civilian said with clear annoyance in her voice.
"Lady. When the rations arrive, we'll open the door. Alright?" was the simple reply from the guard.
"This is fucking bullshit. I bet those uniforms over there don't get-half rations" a civilian man spoke up agitated at the length of time being spent on waiting.
He travelled further down the streets. More soldiers were present and he noticed a make shift barricade set up with people being detained behind. It had several guards posted with a military Humvee close by. The guards this time however were not wearing helmets. Instead they wore hats.
He focused on the figures behind the barricade and noticed a number of civilians kneeling down while some were being forced to with arms behind their heads. He took notice of 2 more people decked out in white quarantine ware who were leading the operation. Military police he assumed and clearly they were in a middle of an investigation, of what he wasn't sure.
Trying not to look suspicious Naruto passed them by slowly while listening on their conversations.
"Let go." One of the civilian men said
"You leave me alone" another replied agitated.
"Down on the ground". One of the men decked out in white quarantine uniform expressed with authority in his voice, easily dominating in the entire conversation.
"I hear it's another half ration week". He heard a female guard posted by the barricade say to another soldier clearly ignoring what was transpiring behind her or simply not caring.
"Okay. Okay. Jesus". A frightened man spoke this time afraid at what was happening.
"I said get down." The quarantine argued again in a higher voice, however instead was met with frustration with the remaining man standing.
"Are you fucking kidding me? That's a three weeks in a row now." The still standing civilian man spoke frustrated at the common occurrence.
*pow * 'cought'.
"I didn't do anything wrong".
"Hands on your fucking head. Do it"
"Well. What're you gonna do?"
"Keep your voice down. What's wrong with you?" a civilian said angrily towards the quarantine officer also loosing patience. By now Naruto was disgusted at what was happening, yet could do nothing.
"Alright scan them".
"Seems like more people are getting infected". Tess finally spoke up as she too was listening on at the conversation from the distance while walking slowly towards the checkpoint.
"That just means more people sneaking out". Joel finally spoke up, clearly experienced to the investigation taking place.
"Whatever. I don't care anymore. Let 'em take me."
"He's clean"
"Clean".
Then suddenly.
"Got a live one"
"No. I'm not infected" the female spoke up desperate out of confusion or unaware of her infection.
At this Naruto stopped walking and looked back on the scene. He knew what was going to happen as Tess filled him in on what Boston was like and knew he couldn't intervene or risk exposure. No wonder the fireflies were increasing in power.
"Ah shit. Hold her down."
"It's wrong. The scan's wrong" the female replied desperately again. Crying this time.
"Do it." The man spoke quickly signifying his experience with the scenario.
"Please" the girl was now begging with tears in her eyes.
Naruto watched on and did nothing. He could do nothing. In the past he would have rushed in and saved her like a knight to a princess, but this was the present in a different world with different rules.
Having gone through the 4th Shinobi War and the events in the sewer community he could no longer rush in without thinking. He knew there would be severe consequences if he did so, especially when he discovered the effect natural chakra had to the infected. So instead he watched from the distance and for a brief moment their eyes connected.
Then.
*bang *
"Alright she's down"
"Fuck this" a male civilian said as he ran trying to escape the scene
"Stop" a uniformed guard spoke out suddenly while aiming down the crosshairs of his gun.
*Bang *
"Holy Shit. Holy Shit".
"Shut up. Consider yourself lucky. That's what happens when you hide out in a condemned building. Call the cleanup crew".
"Yes sir. We'll stay put. They're on their way. Shouldn't be long". One of the guards in uniforms said. The investigation was over.
Naruto looked away. Sure it was his first time in Boston and the whole experience was new to him, but he knew he could do nothing. For the moment he had to watch out for himself so he looked away and walked on towards the checkpoint.
Tess and Joel already having moved on.
As he progressed further towards the first checkpoint, Naruto couldn't help but think on how things have changed and the life he left behind in the sewers.
All the friends and family he made.
And lost.
It was a depressing thought, melancholic in nature and almost brought tears to his eyes yet again.
Almost.
He had cried enough. He had moved on through the continuality of time.
He won't forget all he had accomplished and lost, as it was what defined him.
Flashback
Naruto POV
It had been weeks since the events pertaining to the end of the community and my short life in the sewers. Everyone as far as I know was dead and everything I had loved and fought for was ended by the infection or by my hand.
After sending Cassandra to her eternal sleep I had passed out exhausted from all the strenuous activity, stress and lack of sleep pilling on from the days events.
It truly was a horrid sleep.
I dreamt of all my friends I made from the Elemental Nations standing side by side the family and friends I made in this new world.
Complete happiness was plastered on their faces.
Granny Tsunade, Ero-Sannin and Sakura were there, but more importantly so were Mary and Cassandra. Mary was dressed up in a sunflower dress and looked healthy as she stood upright. Cassandra was standing next to her with her usual red hoodie and tight blue jeans. Both were holding hands and both were calling out to me louder than everyone else.
Enticing me to join them.
To follow them.
But as I walked forward, I could never approach them.
Every step did nothing to conquer the distance between us. I was only a few meters away, yet it was an unconquerable distance.
Over and over again I tried and tried to approach them, shouting out at them that I wanted to join them, yet nothing changed. I couldn't get closer to them.
Couldn't be with them.
I was now desperate and lunged at them just hoping that I could touch them, but I couldn't move. My body was paralysed and all I could do was look on.
Eventually everyone began disappearing one by one, first those from the elemental nations, then those from the community.
By the time everyone had disappeared with smiles on their faces, Cassandra and Mary remained.
They both spoke.
"Naruto" Mary said soothingly.
"We're heading this way. You should go back now". Cassandra spoke up cheerfully
"It's time for us to get going"
"What are you talking about?" I replied desperate. "The three of us will go together".
There was a moment of silence.
"You have a world to explore don't you".
"You can't rely on us forever".
"Later Naruto, if there is a heaven we'll see you there someday okay". Mary said cheerfully yet again.
"wa… wait" I rasped out, I couldn't loose them. I had already lost enough. I couldn't stand loosing anyone else.
I reached out with my arm, hoping they would pull me through.
"please don't leave me alone".
They didn't turn around; instead they started walking away in the distance.
Slowly disappearing.
I awoke with a jolt and a cold sweat pouring down my brow. It was a horrible dream and something I won't forget anytime soon. I looked around trying to regain my bearings. It was dark, yet there was miniscule amounts of moonlight pouring through the gutters and other openings in the walls. I could hear low sounds of clicks and groans behind the barricaded door behind me.
Slowly I remembered what had transpired that day, what had happened to the community and what had happened to Cassandra and Mary. I realized I had never actually left the nightmare that ensued earlier that day. I was still in the sewers and had just collapsed from exhaustion after dealing the final blow to Cassandra through the heart.
'Cassandra'.
Shakily I looked right to see Cassandra sleeping peacefully in a permanent bliss. It was a beautiful yet sad sight; memories of the times we spent together came pouring back bringing tears to my eyes.
I stayed there slumped by the side of the barricade taking in the whole situation.
Contemplating all I had lost and how weak I truly was.
I didn't know how long I stayed there slumped beside Cassandra, but it was long. Hours had passed by and all I did was look at Cassandra and the memories of my life.
My life as a shinobi,
My life as a survivor.
Eventually the hunger got the best of me having not eaten all day and expending large amounts of energy to survive. This proved beneficial as it brought me out of depression and had me focus on something else, for the time being.
Knowing the community was dead. I planned to retrieve the bodies of those precious to me. It was far too dangerous to attempt a complete retrieval with my current emotional turmoil and a horde of infected behind the door, but I at least needed closure with Mary and Cassandra.
Having practiced thoroughly with fuinjutsu it was now possible to seal bodies into my scrolls without any repercussions. Firming myself on what I had to do I sealed Cassandra into my large scroll strapped to my back, then prepared myself to face the horde.
My family at least deserved a burial.
Unblocking the barricade and opening the doors I charged. Intending to dish out as much damage I could to the monstrosities and to get what closure I could.
1 day later:
A day had passed and I had successfully retrieved Mary, Melissa and Max and found a large hill by the side of the river where I could bury them.
The confrontation with Mary and the parents was literally one of the worst fights of my life. It wasn't hard, just emotionally difficult. Her mutated red eyes staring at me with great malice and anger, opposite to the kind, upbeat and caring Mary I once knew. Blood trickled down her brow signifying what she had been doing, eating the corpses that lay on the ground.
Her own mother and father.
The infected had not been satisfied when the parents likely turned to suicide and began eating them.
It was a horrid sight.
They didn't deserve to die like this.
Mary didn't deserve to loose her memory of everything she fought for and everything she loved just to be turned into a mindless infected.
The memory of this encounter would forever be etched into my mind and dreams.
I did what I could to not destroy her body and keep her head intact. It took a lot of effort but eventually I was met with success, yet it was still a horrid sight to look at. Her snarling expression plastered on her face, even in death.
I focused back on the present and looked down at the grave holes my clones and I dug by the river cliff. I had scavenged coffins from the local chapel that were unused and untouched. It was clear nobody found use for them in the present world, but I had a purpose for them.
I wanted to give Mary, Cassandra, Melissa and Max a proper burial by their culture. They deserved that much for bringing happiness to my life no matter how brief it was.
In addition I was able to scavenge flowers, a tombstone and proper clothing as my clones and I dressed the family up for a proper burial. For the parents this proved difficult as they were missing large chunks of flesh, but after rigorous emotional difficulty I was able to dress them up and cover their wounds.
Then I prepared my farewell speech and spoke it to the heavens and to the family.
A thousand times we needed you
A thousand times we cried
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died
A heart of gold stopped beating
two twinkling eyes closed to rest
God broke our hearts to prove he only took the best
never a day goes by that you're not in my heart and my soul.
I looked one last time before the cover would close permanently, barring my sight from them forever.
All members were dressed appropriately.
All their eyes were closed with a serene expression plastered on their faces.
Then after an hour of reflection, memories passing by as I looked on, I gave the order to my clones to close the coffins and descend the bodies to the Earth.
First the parents went down,
Then Mary
Then Cassandra.
I didn't know how long I stayed there looking on at their graves as the clones dispersed, but I stayed as long as I could. It was dangerous to stay too long as infected or other scavengers may notice my presence, but I didn't care.
By some divine miracle they didn't.
Flashback end
I focused back forward as I approached the checkpoint only meters away from the tragic investigation, yet everyone remained calm and natural as they casually talked to one another, evidence of death being common occurrence.
I noticed Military vehicles and trucks entering through the gate by the highway. Metal fences and gates had been set up and the irony of it all was there was a lone American flag atop a pole and a closed newsstand only meters away. Out of all the areas I passed this was clearly the cleanest.
I looked up at the view and was taken back by the beauty. The clouds were overshadowing the city, yet the sunlight was penetrating them causing the overcast to glow silver. Most skyscrapers appeared unaffected of the events transpiring below testament to man's technological achievements, yet one lone tower had collapsed and was leaning off its twin for support. Truly the apocalyptic scene was beautiful.
As I walked and analysed the scenery I overheard another conversation, this time between a male and female guard.
"They fuckin lynched em" the female spoke up
"The entire squad?"
"Yeah. Way I heard it. They lined them up in the street and cut 'em up. Retribution and shit."
"We ever loose control of this place to the stragglers. That's what will happen to us." The female said again
"That will never go down here. Any stragglers even looks at me the wrong way. I put his ass down". The male guard spoke up confidant in his abilities.
"I'm sure that's what they thought at every other QZ before the riots broke out".
"It's those Goddamn fireflies. They keep stirring the population up. We need to put an end to them. That's how you solve this shit"
It appears the fireflies have the military on constant edge with their guerilla tactics and careful co-ordination working to hinder what order the military provided. Then again the military had a bit of a tyrannical streak due to the permanent marshal law, the negligence of basic human rights and the struggle to produce food. The few minutes of walking down the street were proof enough and as expected this tended to put people on edge and everyone needed someone to blame.
Others just lashed out.
Violently.
The failed quarantine zones were proof of that.
I walked further noticing the checkpoint meters away. Military Humvee's and trucks were lined up waiting to be processed and pass through the several metal gates that had been set up. Many warning signs were posted up and again there were many guards that were either patrolling or being stationary on the walkway, guard towers or on the ground with Assault rifles in hand.
I looked up and took note of the yellow banner that stood out as I approached entrance to the next district. 'Checkpoint, South 5' it read indicting their location. Additionally a guard had been posted there to check credentials with an assault rifle in hand, prepared for any suspicious activity.
"I got us new papers. They shouldn't give us any static up there." Tess said.
"Just play it cool"
I approached the checkpoint taking out my fake identification credentials with an innocent look plastered on my face, although this did nothing to diffuse the sternness in the guard's expression. As expected they were lax around me being a child in their eyes, except for the expected questions of why I was not in military academy, why I was travelling with Tess and Joel and why I was carrying a suspiciously large scroll almost the size of myself on my back. To anybody this was ground's for suspicion, but seeing as I was a 'kid' Tess answered for me. After checking the scrolls only to find random 'squiggly lines', they didn't push their suspicion any further chalking it up to me being a weird kid.
Had they known the truth of what I was carrying they would have either detained me immediately or opened fire.
I was fortunate that very few people knew of my abilities and even then it was a select few people I had a level of trust and had begun to work with. Additionally if they blabbered my abilities no one would believe them and chalk them up to being crazy. Had the guard's known what I could do and manage to bypass the 'squiggly lines' on the scroll, they would have noticed that the scrolls were actually packed to the brim with ammunition, weapons and medical equipment that would supply a small-scale army.
Our current mission was to deliver the equipment to the fireflies after we found a safe place to conduct the delivery after all I didn't want people finding out my abilities. Guess I'm the delivery boy these days.
I *sighed* thinking about Konoha and the missions there. What I was doing was similar to what the black-ops ANBU and elite ninja's did. I was just doing it with a greater level of success and lower risk by taking advantage of my abilities in a chakra-less world. I guess that's why I took the business with Tess and Joel.
It reminded me of home.
I'm hoping eventually that I can bring a piece of my home by distributing chakra out like the sage of 6 paths did and what I did with Kurama during the 4th Shinobi war, but that's a long way from being practical again. Even then is it really the right thing to do? Endless wars followed the creation of chakra, what's to say the same thing won't happen here especially when lone individuals can challenge and change the world to the extent Madara Uchiha did and not in a good way. He had seen enough assholes in his journey here.
The electronic gates creaked open bringing me back to the present. I was free to pass through to the other district alongside Tess and Joel. A preferable path to take rather than travelling through underground passageways and buildings that were likely crawling with infected.
I took back my ID credentials and thanked the officer, then began walking down the road passing more guards alert for any signs of suspicion or activity.
I had to focus.
We had a trade to do.
Final Comments:
The poem is called 'In Memory' by Kimberly N. Chastain at ( poem/in-memory-2). I put it in cause I suck at poems and thought that this would fit the scenario, even if it is short. I'm not sure if this will go down as plagiarism but I found it on an independent poem site and herby acknowledge its contribution to the story. I can't be bothered with Harvard referencing. If I get a warning I'll take it down and just link it.
Ok so how as the chapter, I'm sure this was a satisfactory chapter and most of you are pleased the story is make further progress. Please review as it works as inspiration to me, especially since I don't have much time to actually create as much chapters I want. I have hundreds of ideas for stories, but don't have time to draft them up and it sucks.
It is officially the end of the ark and another popping up soon. I haven't fully prepared for it but I have a rudimentary idea what to do. Also I want to know if people want me to continue the story and move on from the meeting with Joel and Tess or do a chapter on their meeting. I have a good idea and you would like it, but it would take a chapter or 2, maybe 3. Send me your thoughts on a review or PM.
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