Naruto Effect

Chapter 21

Away from the attack on the Normandy, the cramped shuttle carrying Shepard and her team were just about to approach the space station that was the main Geth base according to Legion.

"You're sure they won't see us if they look out a window?" Ashley Williams asked Legion as they approached the base.

"The Geth do not require any aesthetics such as windows that normal organics have. As long as our stealth systems are fully active we should be completely unnoticed by the Geth," came the reply from their robotic companion.

"And we have our Shinobi and resident master thief to thank for adapting a stealth system for use with this shuttle," Shepard said with a smile as she turned back to look at Tenten and Kasumi. The shuttle slowed as it got closer to the massive yet oddly shaped stronghold. Unlike the regular star bases this one showed none of the usual areas where a spaceship docked, command areas and the like would be placed. The base itself was essentially shaped like a diamond except instead of it being a solid shape it had points that came out of the center that aimed upwards and downwards to give that diamond shape.

Making light contact with the base as the shuttle came to a stop, the assembled group prepared to board the station as Shepard gave her orders.

"Kasumi will join me and Legion on the base," and after getting nods from the pair of Shinobi she turned to Miranda Lawson. "Miranda: keep trying to contact the Normandy. I'm not happy that they've been this quiet for so long."

"Yes commander. It's most likely just related to the tests on the Reaper IFF," the Cerberus operative replied with her thinking of the lack of communication from their ship.

"You're probably right and Joker knows better too," the commander answered as she headed to the back to the shuttle to where they would enter the base.

Near the back of the shuttle, Tali was mulling over something before finally mustering up the courage and walking over to where Sakura was seated.

"Sakura, I was wondering something"

"Oh, what's up Tali-san?"

"umm..well, you see. Can we sorta have a talk, just you and me, well, in private when we get back to the ship?" Tali asked nervously, hoping the other girl wouldn't react wrong to what she was going to tell her since it did concern Naruto.

"Sure Tali-san, is it medical related or something?" Sakura asked, slightly curious and trying to figure out why her friend was being nervous.

"Not really but more of a private matter." Tali responded.

"Um…ok, we can talk when we get back." Sakura answered with a smile towards the Quarian, "I'm glad you can talk to me" trying to reassure Tali.

"So am I" was all Tali could answer to knowing that what she was going to tell the pink haired medic would probably lead to bad things for all involved. Tali didn't want to hurt anyone but in this case Tali figured it was best to follow her heart and tell Sakura the truth.

She was in love with Naruto and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Deflecting the blade quickly with his hidden Kunai, Naruto managed to stop Sasuke's quick and initial attack as he pushed the would be avenger to the side and using the Uchiha's momentum, knocked him to the ground as he moved across and closer to the elevator to give him some space in the cramped CIC area. This is a bad place for a fight especially between me and him, I gotta get him talking.

"I'm not related to Tsunade your dumbass," Naruto shouted at Sasuke well, not directly… he added to himself after reading the scrolls he got about the connection between the Senju and the Uzumaki clans. "Why you believe Madara after all this time I have no clue. You should know better than that cause that guy was a loon and a liar."

Sasuke wasn't listening to Naruto's denials as he knew the truth. He had come to the conclusion on Naruto's bloodline years ago after Madara told him the tale of the Senju leader and the woman he took, an Uzumaki. Add to that the fact that there was no other Namakaze's ever in the village along with the Fifth's refusal to stop the idiot from calling her "Grandmother" it all added up as far as Sasuke was concerned. The years in prison with just his own thoughts only gave him more than enough time to put the pieces in place in his mind.

Naruto was indeed Tsunade's biological grandson, the product of the woman's own bastard child with that pervert fool Jiraiya. Said child became known to the world as Namakze Minatio, the forth hokage and he took with another Uzumaki which meant Naruto was truly the last of the Senju and that of the Uzumaki as well. No matter how Naruto and others try to deny it the proof was right in front of Sasuke and he was damn sure that he properly avenges his clan by removing the Senju and Uzumaki from the world – the cries of the all betrayed Uchiha call for it after all.

Getting back to his feet Sasuke recovered his sword before looking at Naruto again, "I hear their voices, they cry out for vengeance against you and your clan, and I will avenge the Uchiha clan against the Senju!" before he rushed at Naruto again.

This time Sasuke, using a bit of Chakra in his blade to give it an electrical charge, met Naruto's block and knocked him back causing the Uzumaki to wince after the slight shock.

"I thought you said you wanted to make up for what you did," Naruto said to him with a serious look in his eye. "You gave your word to not only me but to Sakura-Chan as well. Hurting Anko, Ino and Shikamaru and also killing Choji isn't keeping your word."

"They were all weak, pure and simple. I now have seen the true strength of this world and I will be a part of it and with it, I will destroy Konoha, starting here with you," Sasuke finished as he once again charged at Naruto. This time Naruto was able to deflect Sasuke's attack and also managed to grab a hold of Sasuke's arm and disarming him and throwing his sword into one of the many consoles. Moving quickly, Naruto then spun around and tried to strike Sasuke with his Kunai but it was blocked and knocked away, disarming Naruto.

Now without weapons, the pair didn't stop to speak and fell into a Taijutsu match trading punches and blocks along with kicks in the middle of the CIC. Feeling it was a stalemate, Naruto knew he would have to end this soon, especially if Sasuke's Sharingan were truly restored and was allowing him to see Naruto's moves ahead of time. Flipping over Sasuke, Naruto then turned and used a small Fuuton jutsu to give a bit of a wind blast knocking Sasuke closer to the elevator door. I'm lucky he's a few years out of shape or else I would have been in trouble Naruto thought to himself at the end of the exchange.

What Naruto didn't understand was that Sasuke started chuckling a bit as he got up again.

"You're still a moron," he started. "You don't get it and never will and will never understand the true path of an avenger," as he then quickly ran through some hand seals that Naruto didn't recognize. Naruto only managed to duck at the last second as Sasuke used whatever Jutsu he created and sent out a bunch of electrical bolts from his hands, barely missing Naruto.

"When I get through with you, I will go back and kill them all," Sasuke growled. "Then I shall take a proper woman and rebuild my clan. Sakura perhaps? Or maybe that little friend of yours, the one you added to you clan?" he ended with an evil laugh.

"You fucker, you won't hurt Sakura-Chan or Tali-nee-Chan!" Naruto responded as he lost his temper and began to surge with some of the Kyuubi's power. However, his anger also made him unaware of his surroundings and especially the second person who entered the area from behind him as Naruto barely heard the hissing of a snake before feeling a pain in his neck and getting very dizzy all of the sudden.

"Tut tut Sasuke-kun, Harbinger-sama was quite clear in his request that Naruto-kun not be killed at this time," came the voice of Kabuto. With his vision blurring, Naruto could see that unlike Sasuke who looked like one of these Collector's, Kabuto still looked the same as he last saw him, the long robe covering his body with the snake head and body showing from the back. Could have sworn that Hinata cut that snake's head off…

As Naruto tried to stand back up, despite the poison in his veins, Sasuke grabbed his Kunai and stabbed each of Naruto's hands pinning him face down on the floor of the deck, much similar to how Pein had disabled him during the attack of the village all those years ago.

"You should mind your own affairs Kabuto," Sasuke spoke as he retrieved his sword. "I will do whatever it takes to avenge my family, even killing you if you get in my way again."

Walking towards Naruto, he could see that whatever poison Kabuto used was doing its job as Naruto had passed out and now was completely defenseless.

"Did you stop that other one that ran through the door?"

"Sadly he had already left the area by the time I entered the lab. I can happily say that all the research has been destroyed so at least Harbinger-sama will be pleased with that."

"Whatever," Sasuke said dismissingly as he walked towards Naruto, sword in hand ready to end the Uzumaki's life.

"Get the hell away from him!" came the shout of a female followed but some gunshots as Kelly Chambers ran out of the Armory with an assault rifle and began firing at the pair. When Sasuke looked at her, his adjusted his repaired eyes and for an instant the hair turned pink and the eyes turned green.

The next thing Kelly felt was a stabbing sensation in her stomach as she saw Sasuke appear in front of her, as she locked eyes with his red, swirling eyes.

"You are not Sakura," was all that he said as he removed his blade from her stomach and Kelly fell to the ground as alarms started to sound on the ship.

"Nar…uto," was the only thing Kelly could say as she lay on the floor of the CIC bleeding out. It's always her, why her. Why can't anyone see ME for once…

"It seems our time is up Sasuke-kun," Kabuto spoke as the Uchiha left the room before walking towards Kelly.

The last thing Kelly saw was Kabuto leaning over her and forming a smile, "oh my, you're still alive despite the blood loss. Maybe I should do something to help you?" and then blackness took her as she saw the silver haired man smiling at her.

Cutting through the hull undetected wasn't an easy task but Legion managed to get the task done as Shepard and the two Shinobi jumped down followed by the Geth. The one thing that was noticed by Shepard was not the lack of breathable air but the low gravity.

"Legion, why the low gravity?" she asked towards the Geth.

"Shepard-commander as you know the Geth do not require the same needs as humans like you do," Was the explanation she got.

"I see," the commander said in response.

The team moved forward as Legion guided them through the station until Tenten noticed something on the floor.

"Legion, what's this green light I see on the ground?" Kasumi asked as she walked down the corridor.

"Those are Geth data lines. It would be advisable not to cross them as breaking the lines would alert the Geth at the hubs."

"Ok, don't cross the green lines unless we have to you two," Shepard then commanded and proceeded to keep walking carefully making sure she didn't cross the line. After quickly encountering their first hub and a group of Geth, they stopped as Legion explained that the hubs could be a good source of salvage along with other information. It was during this that Legion appeared, as much as the Geth can appear that is, to be surprised.

"Shepard-Commander! There is a possible alternative to this mission."

"How so Legion?" The commander asked while the pair of younger Shinobi just listened on.

"Before, we saw only destruction of the base and these heretics as the only solution. Now we have discovered that we can reconfigure the virus that they were planning to use against us on them and reprogram them to once again join us," Legion fully detailed.

"So that means you'll all be on the same side again and stop attacking people?" Tenten asked thinking she understood what she was just told.

"Correct. This platform has yet to complete the possibility of such action but we felt that Shepard-Commander should be informed before proceeding forward and making a final decision."

"Why me? They're your people right?" Shepard asked confused at what Legion had said to her.

"We are divided and cannot form a consensus. Half wish to destroy the heretics while the other half wish to convert the heretics back to our side. Shepard-Commander has the experience with the Geth to allow a proper decision on the issue."

"Miranda, did you copy that?" Shepard said, tapping her communicator when she didn't get a response other than static, "Miranda, respond."

"Communications seem to be jammed Shepard," Kasumi noted checking her own equipment.

"Guess we're on our own then, let's keep going," Shepard ordered as Legion pointed in the direction they would need to go.

The rest of the mission went forward as the group moved their way through the base and eliminated Geth and their hubs as need be. It was during this time they Shepard discovered how good Legion's hacking ability was as the Geth was able to turn the rocket sentry's onto their side for a time and allowed the team to save some ammunition as they used the bases defenses to fight off its inhabitants. They also discovered that it was within this base where these Geth manufactured and deployed their numerous cruisers and drop ships that were used to ferry the Geth around.

Moving deeper into the base they entered a room where there appeared to be a large console overlooking what looked like a supply area.

"Shepard-commander, this is where we can access the Geth data files. We have still yet to meet a consensus. What would you advise for us to do?" Legion asked the commander.

"Shepard, Tali wouldn't be too happy if you let them take control of these Geth and grow into a bigger force," Kasumi noted.

Taking a few moments to weigh the options, Shepard thought this would be a perfect situation for Naruto since he had a knack for dealing with things like this.

"Legion, use the altered virus and reprogram them," The commander told the Geth with them.

"Shepard, I'm not sure if this is the right idea, adding to their numbers could be dangerous," Kasumi cautioned.

"I know but I'm not the one to judge them for being them, they deserve a chance and if Legion says they will stop attacking places like Eden Prime and Naruto's world then I'll give them that chance," the commander told Kasumi before turning back to Legion, "Do it."

"The upload will take two minutes, we must hold this position as the heretics will try and stop it," Legion noted. "There are some platforms that can be hacked to assist in our defense for a limited time."

"Kasumi, head to the left and cover that walkway," Shepard pointed to the small walkway to the left. "Legion, you handle the right and I'll co-ordinate with you which platforms to use and when," the commander finished as she walked back and prepared to cover from the center while Legion was on the right side to cover the other walkway.

The two minutes went by very slowly as the team fought off wave and wave of Geth troops before the re-programmed virus finished uploading. Of course things didn't get any easier for the team.

"Shepard-commander, the station will now release an EMP burst in three minutes to rewrite the programming of the heretics. The burst will cause damaged to unshielded organic tissue and the station is unshielded," Legion announced.

"Would have been nice to know beforehand," Kasumi added.

"Too late now, let's get out of here before the timer runs out," Shepard shouted as the team rushed and fought their way past the last remaining Heretic Geth in their path. After downing the Geth Prime that stood in their way, the teams' communicators began to work again.

"..Shepard? Shepard, can you hear me, respond skipper," came Ashley's voice over the channel.

"I can hear you now Ash, we need to get moving so make sure the shuttle is ready to go the moment we get on board as we've got an EMP burst happening in less than three minutes," the commander stated as she continued running to the point where they would meet the shuttle.

"Roger that but I think you should know, we've got bigger problems."

"What could be bigger than this?" asked Kasumi.

"We finally managed to hear from the Normandy..." Williams began to tell but was cut off quickly by the commander.

"Can this wait till I'm aboard?"

"Skipper, the ship was attacked," Ashley said in a quiet voice, "and it's bad…really really bad."

"So, not only did you allow the crew to be taken and some of Mordin's research to be destroyed along with unsealing the AI but you also went against the commander's orders and let Naruto out where now he is heavily injured and near death. You did a great job there Joker…" Miranda shouted at Joker in the briefing room. The shuttle had returned and met up with the damaged ship and now Joker was being debriefed by Shepard and Miranda Lawson, along with Ashley Williams.

"Hey, I know I screwed up!" Joker said in his deference, "and if Naruto wasn't up there I'd most likely be dead at the hands of that guy."

"Jeff is correct. Naruto was the only one capable of holding off the attack while Jeff got away to save the ship," EDI chimed in along with showing a playback of the security vid of Naruto's fight with the Collector identified as 'Sasuke' before an electrical discharge destroyed the camera.

"Miranda, it's a bad situation all around but at least we still have a ship to come back to," Shepard added in hoping to calm down the Cerberus officer. "Did we find out who that pool of blood on the CIC deck belonged to?" she asked to Ashley, hoping that Naruto at least managed to do some damaged to his attacker before being taken down. The sight of the CIC showed that at least it looked like he put up some sort of fight in there but seeing him like that on the floor with his hands pinned by his own blades was a very painful thing especially for the Shinobi as Sakura had a near nervous breakdown before pulling herself together and beginning to treat the fallen Shinobi.

"It belongs to Kelly Chambers as one of the attackers took her with them before they departed," EDI reported, "and I could not verify her life signs at that point."

"Why would they take her body? Didn't they kill her?" Ashley asked in general confusion about it since by all appearances the Yeoman should be dead.

"I think they would know since Naruto seem to know who those guys were," Joker added, hinting at the 'they' was meaning the Shinobi.

Taking a second to think, Shepard then began to give some orders. "Joker, get back to the cockpit and get ready to move out," before turning to Ashley and Miranda. "I'm heading down to med-bay to check up on Naruto's situation," she said as she began to walk towards the doors of the briefing room, "and then I'm going to find out exactly what we're dealing with in regards to these 'missing-nin'".

Making her way to the med-bay, Shepard managed to at least get a small smile as she entered to see Tenten and Lee along with Tali gathered inside. Sakura and Mordin both seemed to be checking the young man's vitals.

"Commander, he seems to be doing better," Mordin reported as he noticed her enter the Med-bay. "It appeared the anti-toxin that Sakura has administered seems to be doing the job on the poison."

"That's good to hear," the commander replied quietly before looking at the pink haired medic. "Any idea what they hit him with Sakura?"

Taking a breath, Sakura began to respond in a near monotone voice. "Its serpent based venom that is meant to incapacitate the victim. The serum I've given him should break it down enough for his own healing factor to take care of it. I've seen it used before so I know who did it."

Walking up to the Shinobi, Shepard reached out and moved the girls face so she could see her eyes and could see that she was near exhaustion. "He's out of danger, go rest Sakura. We'll keep an eye on things and get you if we need you."

"No! I should be here. I should have been here…I…I..I came along so he wouldn't have to fight them both, I…" before passing out in Shepards arms as Mordin had given her a sedative.

"She's very good at her work but like Naruto, doesn't know when to slow down and rest," Mordin stated.

"Hokage-sama has had to do the same with her before," Tenten commented to reassure the commander and Mordin.

"Lee, could you and Tenten take her back to your area and make sure she rests," the commander asked of the other Shinobi.

"Yosh, right away Taichou!" Lee replied with a quick salute before taking Sakura over his shoulder and leaving with Tenten following, the girl giving a quick bow before exiting.

"She's going to be pissed when she wakes up Shepard," Tali commented with a bit of a laugh in her voice.

"She'll get over it," Shepard said before they heard some stirring from the bed as Naruto began to come around.

"Uhh…where am I?" Naruto asked quietly.

"In Med-bay. You gave us all quite the scare again young man," Shepard replied from beside him. "I don't like getting back from mission and finding you here," She finished with a smile while grabbing his hand.

"You really scared us Naruto. Sakura especially," Tali noted.

"Where is Sakura-Chan?"

"We had to force her to take a nap because she wouldn't leave," Mordin chimed in.

With a small chuckle, Naruto replied, "Baa-Chan did the same the last time I was in a bad way like this," before looking right into the commander eyes. "Did Joker get away ok?"

"Yes, he got away and you guys managed to save the ship with the help of EDI," She told him before saying, "now rest, I'll tell you everything else later."

"Ok," Naruto got out before closing his eyes again.

Turning to walk out, Shepard motioned for Mordin to follow as Tali made it clear by her body language she wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm going to kill them Shepard," Tali started, "No one hurts the one I love and get away with it."

"I think you and everyone else is in agreement with that Tali," Shepard agreed with a determined voice as she exited the room with Mordin to leave the "siblings" alone for a bit although Shepard was starting to wonder if Tali was really seeing things that way anymore.

A short time later the entire team, including all the members of Team Konoha, were assembled in the briefing room. Naruto had awoken a mere few hours after his initial talking to Shepard and was ready enough to move about and said he'd be ready for whatever they planned next. There was a tearful reunion as Shepard watched Lee grab hold and jump up and down with his friend proclaiming how Naruto had 'once again passed through the fires of adversity and showed his truth youthful power' despite Naruto's protests for the green clad man to put him down. Now they were waiting for the commander to tell them what their next move would be.

"It's time we strike back," Shepard stated. "They took our crew, they took our friends, and they hurt us. No more. We are going through the Omega relay and we are going to take back our crew and then put an end to this," she finished her speech and seeing that everyone around agreed.

"This will not be easy, and this is near crazy but as a friend has shown me – sometimes crazy works," as the group snickered, especially the members of Team konoha as it's exactly something their blonde haired friend would say and do. "Let's go and show them and by extension the reapers that the line is drawn here and that they can't do what they want anymore," She finished her speech then fingered the communication unit.

"Joker, set course for the Omega Relay," she finished.

"You got it commander," came the reply from the helmsmen. "It'll be about four hours from our current position before we get there."

Before she dismissed them, she looked at the Shinobi, "I know you four are supposed to deal with those two but after what they pulled here, I don't think you'll be alone in this."

"That's for sure Shepard," Jack jumped in." I've got something in mind for those two," as others around the table nodded in agreement.

"For once Jack and I are in agreement. Justice will be brought to this would be avenger and his companion," Samara added.

"Thanks everyone," Naruto said.

"Ok everyone, get ready and rest up. It's going to be a fun ride from here," Shepard finished and dismissed everyone.

Author's notes: Now now, don't be reading into the tea leaves and think that updates are going to be faster because this one is fast. This is just a blip as GT just said to me last night "oh, 21 is ready to go" and it caught me off guard as much as you. If she does it again in a few days for chapter 22 then things will change.

I know it's quite short but this chapter is essentially what I need it to be and does its job in my eyes. I had debated about giving Kabuto the full Collector treatment as well but opted to leave it be for the time being and just leave it as Sasuke. Truth be told, mapping out and working out the Naruto-Sasuke fight was very very tough and I still don't know if I got it right in the long run. Hopefully enough of a taste to hold everyone over until they meet again.

Which leads into Sasuke's theory about Naruto's family. That's all that it is – Sasuke's theory and how he sees things and justifies his continued battle/feud with Naruto by thinking of Naruto being directly part of the Uchiha clan's demise. Just part of his path of vengeance stuff.

And yes, Kelly's fate is unknown and I would like to keep it as such for now.

And by now I think the main pairing should be clear. If not then next chapter it will be. I'll be honest; romance isn't my thing so I know the buildup has been crappy to say the least. My only hope is that in the end it's believable. At that point I'll update the summary and put it up so please - no more Pm's about it. If you've read this far then one more chapter is a short wait.

Besides, patience is a virtue. ;)

Thanks for reading and see you next time.