A/N - Okay, as you can see, this is the first chapter of a new story. I was given the idea when somebody asked me if I could write a Naruto x Final Fantasy VIII crossover story, and this idea just struck me.
Anyways, this first chapter is basically a big information dump chapter and a kind of recap for various things in the game. Also, keep in mind that Naruto arrives 1 year before the events of the game. So, when the adventure begins, Naruto is 18 years-old in the story, the same age as Quistis. This also means that he's 1 year older than most of the heroes.
I actually rather like how this chapter turned out. I think it's interesting and I hope you'll all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Sooo...yay? lol
Chapter 1 - Welcome to Balamb Garden
Naruto grumbled to himself irritably as he paced back and forth in his and Jiraiya's room at some village's inn in Kaminari no Kuni. Once again, Jiraiya had left him alone while he went off to be with some cheap floozies at the local whorehouse, or whatever they were called. Naruto didn't care. He just wanted Jiraiya to train him seriously rather than always pulling this crap. And even when he did choose to train him, all Jiraiya wanted was for him to tap into the Kyuubi's power. Naruto hated that! The Kyuubi's power always hurt him and it felt like such a crutch. He wanted to get stronger on his own without having to rely on the blasted Kyuubi all the time!
Looking towards Jiraiya's pack, Naruto smirked. Well, if he won't take my training seriously, I might as well take a look and see what he's always carrying with him… he thought to himself as he walked over to the pack. Opening it, he began to dig through Jiraiya's things in search of anything interesting. Reaching in, he pulled out an inkwell and a brush. Putting those aside, he pulled out a couple of books. Curious about its contents, Naruto opened the first book and flipped through the pages. On every page, there was a seal drawn as well as notes on what each seal did. Setting that one down, Naruto flipped through the second book and smirked. A book on fuinjutsu theory and application. Jackpot!
Digging through Jiraiya's pack a little more to see if there was anything else that might be useful, he found a seal tag at the bottom, hidden away. Curious about this, he pulled the seal tag out of the pack and looked it over. I wonder what this one does. He thought before shrugging and slipping it into his pocket. Ah well, finders keepers. If he would just train me right, I wouldn't need to resort to stealing from him like this. Besides, it serves him right for being such an inconsiderate asshole.
Putting away the items that were of no use to him, Naruto closed the pack once again before he pulled out a sealing scroll. Unfurling it, he proceeded to seal everything inside except for the book on fuinjutsu theory and application. Slipping his sealing scroll away, he soon opened the book and began to read.
Two Weeks Later
Jiraiya had easily found out that Naruto took his things the next day after searching his pack. However, Naruto absolutely refused to return what he took. When Jiraiya began yelling at him about how he'd never be any good at fuinjutsu and should just stick to what the Sannin was trying to teach him, Naruto shouted back saying that if Jiraiya wasn't going to teach him anything, then he'd learn something on his own. After some more arguing, Jiraiya gave up trying to get his things back from Naruto. The way he saw it, Naruto would give up when he realized he had no talent for something as complex as fuinjutsu and then he'd be able to get his things back.
Now, two weeks later, Naruto's handwriting had finally been improved to the right level to be able to draw and write seals properly. He was about to test out a basic storage seal he had created.
Taking hold of Jiraiya's latest smut novel, he placed it in the center of the seal. Well, here goes nothing. Time to see if I have it right. Activating the seal, Naruto watched as the book disappeared inside the storage seal. Afterwards, he activated the seal again and out popped the novel in perfect condition. Grinning to himself, he pumped his fist into the air and cheered.
Returning the novel to Jiraiya's pack, he soon slipped away the empty storage scroll into his own pack. Now, let's see if I can figure out what kind of seal Jiraiya's been developing…
One Month Later
Damn asshole, leaving me alone again while he goes to another fucking whorehouse. Fuck it, I don't need him. Naruto thought to himself before he finished making changes to Jiraiya's experimental seal where it could use some improvement. Once he had finished, the seventeen year-old blonde took his things and left the room and then the inn itself. Glancing in the direction of the brothel, he sighed and shook his head. Fuck you Jiraiya.
Leaving the village, Naruto ventured some distance out before he placed the seal down on the ground. Taking a deep breath, he made sure he had everything he wanted to bring with him before returning his attention to the seal. Alright, here goes. I wonder where I'll end up? Wherever I end up going, it's bound to be better than this place. Goodbye everyone… he thought to himself before activating the seal.
Almost immediately, a wormhole appear and began swirling in the air before him. When it finally stabilized, Naruto sighed and stepped into the wormhole. When it closed behind him, he smiled sadly to himself. I'll miss all of you, but this is what's best for me.
Gaia - Outside Balamb Garden
Quistis frowned as she watched the strange wormhole that had appeared moments earlier outside the large structure known as Balamb Garden. She had brought with her a small group of SeeD with her to investigate this strange phenomenon, but so far they had no idea what was going on.
Approaching it slowly, Quistis was surprised when a blonde teenager with whiskers on his face fell through the strange wormhole and fell against her, the two of them falling to the ground. Gently pushing him off of her, she took a good look at the unconscious blonde and frowned in thought. He's clearly around my age. He's tall too. What's with those whisker marks? Just who is this person?
"Quistis, are you alright?" one of her fellow SeeD asked her.
Standing up, the blonde SeeD instructor nodded slowly as she looked down at the teenager. "I'm alright. Someone carry him. We're taking him with us to the infirmary. When he wakes up, we'll figure out what to do with him." she instructed.
"Yes ma'am!" her fellow SeeD exclaimed before one of them walked up to the downed teenager and lifted him into his arms. Afterwards, he and the other SeeD followed Quistis back to Balamb Garden.
The Next Day
Naruto groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. Glancing around at his surroundings, he realized that he was in what appeared to be a hospital room. After glancing around, he turned his eyes to the woman who was sitting in a chair near his bed. She was looking right into his eyes with a small smile adorning her face. "Umm, hi. My name's Naruto Uzumaki. It's nice to meet you Miss…?"
"Quistis. Quistis Trepe. I'm the one that found you. You fell out of some kind of tear in space. Do you mind if I ask you where you came from?" the blue-eyed woman asked curiously.
The whiskered blonde smiled at her and said, "I'm from another world and dimension. I used something called fuinjutsu to open a wormhole and stepped through it to escape from my home world. I wanted to just...get away from everything."
Quistis frowned at this, but nodded her head in understanding. "I see. Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me a bit about your home world?"
Naruto smiled at her and nodded slowly. "Alright. Well, the first thing you should know is that in the Elemental Nations, there were a bunch of different countries, each with their own hidden village. In these hidden villages there were a bunch of shinobi, ninjas, whatever you want to call them. There were also daimyos and samurai. And in the hidden villages, there were people called Kage. For instance, in the village I came from, our leader was a ninja of extraordinary power and intelligence known as the Hokage."
"Hmm, that's interesting. So are you one of these ninja?" Quistis asked.
Naruto nodded in the affirmative. "Yes. I was only a Genin, the lowest rank you can be in the shinobi forces, but that doesn't mean I was weak by any means. We operated in teams of one Jonin and three Genin. Jonin was two ranks higher than Genin by the way." he explained. "I ended up on a really lousy team. A man named Kakashi Hatake was my Jonin sensei, while my teammates were Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. Kakashi was as lazy as they come and didn't bother to really train Sakura or myself. He focused his efforts entirely on Sasuke. Sakura was a bitch that always hit me if I simply tried talking to her. I used to have a crush on her, but I got over her very easily. Who could like someone that was that much of a bitch?" Naruto questioned before releasing a heavy sigh.
"As for Sasuke, he was a self-centered asshole with an oversized ego. He also had both an inferiority complex and a superiority complex. I know, it's strange, but he truly believed he was the perfect shinobi and treated everyone like they were beneath him. And if anyone proved to be better than him, it only served to piss him off. He also wanted to kill his older brother because he wiped out the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, but I'm pretty darn sure that there was something else at play that night. I knew Itachi and he wasn't the type to just do something like that without a very good reason. So I never agreed with Sasuke's judgment of Itachi, nor did I like the fact that he wanted to kill his older brother."
"Hmm…" Quistis hummed as she thought about the information she had just received. So far he's only talked about how bad his relationship was with his teammates. I wonder… Looking into Naruto's eyes, she frowned and asked, "Surely you had some friends in your world? Aren't you going to miss them?"
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "I suppose I had a few friends, but I don't know if they really cared about me or not. I grew up alone and was treated like garbage by the majority of people in Konohagakure, my home village. I thought the Ichiraku family cared for me, but one day I heard old man Teuchi talking to Ayame-chan about me. He...wasn't happy. Teuchi was frustrated because of my constant presence at his ramen stand. They weren't getting the kind of business they used to because I was there a lot. Teuchi wanted to find some way to make me stop visiting his stand, but Ayame didn't like his attitude and they got into a big argument. I didn't listen to everything however. I left and never went back to Ramen Ichiraku."
Sighing again, Naruto looked into Quistis' eyes and shook his head. "As for others my own age? Heh, they wanted nothing to do with me either. I was treated like dirt and made fun of by most everyone from my graduating class and the year before. Lee was nice enough, but even he looked down on me. I was just a failure in their eyes and someone that didn't deserve to be a ninja."
The blonde woman frowned just a bit more at this. "I see. It sounds like you've lived a lonely life Naruto. I'm sorry you've had to suffer all alone like that. Is that why you chose to leave your world behind?"
Naruto nodded slowly. "That's part of it. Another bigger reason is because a group of S-rank missing nin were after me to remove a monster from inside of me. On the day of my birth, the Yondaime Hokage sealed the Kyuubi no Yoko into my gut. It's the strongest of the nine bijuu, powerful creatures made of chakra. Needless to say, the Kyuubi and I don't get along very well. But, there is another reason for me making the trip here."
Quistis nodded her head in understanding before she asked two questions, "I see. What might this reason be? And what's chakra?"
The seventeen year-old blonde shrugged his shoulders. "In order? The reason I'm talking about is because I was taken on a three year training trip to help prepare me to face the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and whatever else might be thrown at me. However, the man that was supposed to be training me wasn't taking my training seriously. He preferred to leave me alone while he went off to whorehouses to do...well...that. I got so fed up with it that I decided I was going to take whatever I could from his pack so I could train myself. I found an experimental seal that was incomplete. I determined that it could be used to open a wormhole and allow someone to pass between worlds and even dimensions. So I studied fuinjutsu for a while and then finished the seal. And, well...here I am."
Naruto took a breath before he continued on. "As for chakra? It's a type of energy, I guess, that exists within everybody in my world. It's a combination of our mental and physical energies. And if you run out of chakra or have it all drained somehow, you can die. That's how important chakra is to us. Most people only had enough chakra to get around and do their daily activities. They were unable to tap into their chakra and use it like we ninja could. As for ninja, we're able to tap into our chakra reserves to perform feats that can only be described as miracles. For instance…" Bringing his hands up, he formed a single hand seal and said, "Shadow Clone Technique."
Quistis went wide-eyed when she saw an exact duplicate of Naruto appear beside his bed. When it raised its hand and said "Hello." to her, she was even more astonished. "You weren't kidding when you said you could perform miracles. This shouldn't be possible…"
"Heh. That's not even a fraction of what people are capable of in my world. You can spit fireballs from your mouth, walk on water, unleash large blades of wind on people, and so much more. The most common usage of chakra fell into the category of ninjutsu. An example of ninjutsu would be the Shadow Clone Technique I just used. Other examples include expelling a constant stream of flames from your mouth or this." Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hands.
Dispelling it seconds later, he continued on. "Another example of how to use chakra falls into the genjutsu category. I can't perform any genjutsu myself, as I don't have enough control over my massive amounts of chakra to use it effectively. Genjutsu is used to affect the target's mind and make them see things that aren't real. I can't really list many examples, but the basic Clone Technique falls into this category as you make illusionary copies of yourself to confuse your enemies."
"There's a lot of branches that you can specialize in ranging from taijutsu to fuinjutsu. Fuinjutsu is the art of sealing. For example, I used a seal to come here to your world. Speaking of which, where exactly am I and what kind of world did I end up in?" Naruto questioned.
Quistis smiled kindly at him and said, "You're in an academy where people aim to become soldiers known as SeeD. The name of this academy is Balamb Garden. Right now you're in the infirmary, but there's so much more to this building than just that. As for the world you've ended up in, we call our planet Gaia. I'm not sure what it was like in your world, but in our world, there's monsters that roam about the wilderness that we are trained to fight against. There are also beings known as Guardian Forces, or GF's for short, that can be summoned to aid you in battle for a time. If you bond with a GF, you can unlock a variety of new abilities ranging from abilities you can use in battle to support abilities that will allow you to increase a certain aspect of your being such as magic defense or attack power."
Naruto nodded in understanding before he asked another question. "What's your world's technology like? My world's was alright, but I'm guessing yours is far more technologically advanced than my world is. And what kinds of weapons do people use here to combat monsters and other enemies that might crop up?"
Quistis tapped her chin as she looked up in thought. After a moment, she looked into Naruto's eyes and began to explain as best she was able to. "Well, our world has high tech computers, airships that can fly through the sky, and a variety of other such things. I'm not sure what it was like in your world, but we've got some pretty advanced technology here. As for weapons? Well, I personally like to use a whip. There's a man here named Squall Leonhart that uses a technologically advanced weapon known as a gunblade. The way that weapon works is he squeezes a trigger built into his sword at the moment he attacks an enemy and fires a bullet at the same time his sword is dealing damage to the enemy. This increases the damage dealt to his enemies. Then there's weapons called guns that utilize something called gunpowder to propel a bullet through the chamber of the gun. Bullets are small objects, but they can deal a lot of damage to an enemy due to the high velocity and penetrating power they have. A boy named Zell Dincht uses knuckle weapons. The list goes on and on."
"I see. So basically there's a wide variety of weapons that people use, some that we had in my world, but others that are completely new to me such as the gunblade and guns that you mentioned. Do you think someone here can teach me how to use swords and guns? I'd like to utilize both if I could." Naruto questioned. "And...you said this is an academy that teaches people how to be soldiers called SeeD right? Do you think I could study to become a SeeD as well?"
Quistis smiled and nodded her head in confirmation. "Well, normally we don't accept students over the age of 15, but I think for you we can make an exception, considering your unique circumstances. So I'll make sure you can study to become a SeeD. In fact, I'd recommend it based on what you've told me about yourself and your people. And there are instructors here that will help you learn how to utilize both of those weapons if those are what you're interested in using. You could study to use a gunblade if you'd like, since that utilizes both bullets and the blade."
Naruto shook his head in the negative. "I'd prefer to use swords and guns rather than copy the style of this Squall person you mentioned. Besides, I like to keep my options open y'know?"
The blonde SeeD instructor nodded her head in understanding. "Of course. And you can still utilize the remarkable abilities you possess to help you as well. That's a definite plus right there."
"Thank you. Umm...hmm…" Naruto scratched at the back of his head as he tried to think of something else to talk about. After a moment, he released a sigh and shook his head. "I can't think of anything else to ask about. Nor can I think of anything to talk with you about. So...anything else you want to ask me about Quistis-chan?"
"Not really. I suppose it would be best to let you get some more rest. Unless you'd prefer I show you around the academy and get you settled into a room of your own?" Quistis suggested.
Naruto smiled at his new friend and slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed before standing up. Stretching, he picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder. "Ready when you are."
Quistis smiled at him and nodded her head. Standing up, she saw that he was a few inches taller than she was. Shrugging that thought aside, she turned and motioned for him to follow her before leaving the infirmary with him trailing behind her.
Six Months Later
"Damn. You beat me again Naruto. How are you so good at this game?" a blonde with a tattoo on his face questioned his friend. This young man was Zell Dincht, a fellow student that had spiky blonde hair similar to Naruto's. Zell also has blue eyes and a rather distinct tattoo on the left side of his face.
Naruto chuckled as he took the card he wanted from his friend. "Hey, I've mastered the art that is Triple Triad. Not my fault you can't keep up Zell." Naruto joked. He was wearing the standard SeeD cadet uniform, just like Zell currently was.
"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in why don't ya? I've tried getting the hang of this game, but it's harder than you make it look Naruto. I bet you could probably beat anybody you wanted with your huge collection of cards." Zell said.
"Maybe, maybe not." Naruto replied. "I'm sure there are people out there with some super rare cards that might be able to crush me. Still, that doesn't mean I'd just give up. I'd play 'em until I won. That and I refuse to lose any of my cards because I couldn't match up to somebody in a game of Triple Triad."
"Heh, somebody's a stubborn mule, aren't ya buddy?" Zell questioned with a grin. Standing up, he cracked his knuckles and his neck before pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "Wanna go train in the Training Center? I'm bored of just sitting around all day."
Naruto packed up his cards and stood up as well. Nodding his head, Naruto said, "Just let me go get my weapons and I'll be ready to go."
"Sure thing man. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the Training Center." Zell said before he left his room.
Heh, can't believe I've been here for half a year already. At least the classes are interesting and I'm learning a lot about the world and how things work here. And Quistis was right about the monsters. They're unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm just glad I'm getting the training I need. Naruto thought to himself as he left Zell's room and ventured to his own. Speaking of Quistis, I wonder if she'd be interested in going on a date with me? Kami she's beautiful…
Another Six Months Later
Naruto sighed as he looked down on the seventeen year-old with a fresh new scar on his face. This teenager was Squall Leonhart, and he was in the infirmary due to what had happened during his spar with Seifer Almasy. Seifer had intentionally cut Squall's face, drawing blood and leaving a permanent diagonal scar on Squall's face.
As Squall came to, he looked to see both Dr. Kadowaki and Naruto Uzumaki standing there looking down on him. Before he could say anything, Naruto spoke up. "You got lucky Squall. I'm amazed Seifer didn't do more than he did."
"Oh hush up Naruto." Dr. Kadowaki said before looking down at Squall. When he sat up, she asked, "How are you feeling?"
Squall brought a hand up to his face and shook his head. "...Ok." he said.
The female doctor shook her head before pointing at his face. "Take it easy next time, you hear?" she suggested before lowering her arms. "Looks like your eyes are focusing. You should be fine. Say your name for me." When Squall replied with "Squall." she smiled and nodded her head before pointing in his face again. "Why don't you take it easy in training? Next time you might not be so lucky."
Squall and Naruto both said "Tell that to Seifer." at the exact same time. Looking into each other's eyes, Naruto chuckled a bit and patted Squall on the back. "Looks like you're going to be just fine, Squall. I'm glad. Don't know what I'd do if I lost you because of some training accident, my friend."
Dr. Kadowaki sighed and scratched at her cheek. "That Seifer… Won't listen to anyone. Why don't you ignore him?"
"I can't just run away." Squall replied.
Kadowaki shrugged and shook her head. "You wanna be cool, huh? Well, don't get hurt in the process. Let's see, your instructor is…" she had to take a moment to think on it before she shouted out, "Quistis! I'll call her now. Just wait here a minute."
After Dr. Kadowaki left the room to go and call Quistis, Squall laid back down on the bed and brought a hand to his face. Naruto shook his head at him. "Next time Seifer eggs you on, I suggest you ignore him, just like Dr. Kadowaki just said. But you're not going to listen to me, are you Squall?"
Squall looked into Naruto's face and shook his head. "It's not as easy to ignore him as you think, Naruto. And I'd rather not be called a coward because I backed down from a challenge."
Naruto sighed and shook his head again. "Then at least be more careful next time, Squall. I don't want to see you hurt like this again. You're my friend and I'll always worry about you. You should know that by now."
Before Squall could reply, they heard Dr. Kadowaki talking on the phone with Quistis. "Quistis? Come get your student. Yes, yes… His injury's not serious. It'll probably leave a scar. …...Right. Now please come by."
As they waited for the time to pass and for Quistis to appear, Squall heard a voice say, "Squall...so we meet again." Looking through the window, he saw a girl with a green shawl walking away.
Well that was weird. Squall thought to himself as he looked to Naruto. "Did you see that girl just now?"
Naruto nodded his head slowly, obviously equally as confused as his friend. However, before he could say anything, the infirmary doors slid open and in walked Quistis in her uniform. Upon seeing Squall, she sighed and shrugged her shoulders in exasperation. Stepping forward, she stopped next to Naruto and looked down at Squall's face. "I knew it'd be either you or Seifer!" she exclaimed before turning to Naruto. "Thank you for looking after him Naruto. Now come on, let's go. Today's the field exam. I don't want you two to be late for that."
After the three of them left the infirmary, as they began walking down the hall, Quistis looked at Squall and asked, "Squall? Is there something on your mind?"
Continuing down the hall a short distance, they both stopped and the two of them said at the exact same time, "...Not really." Afterwards, Quistis began to laugh. Looking into her eyes, Squall asked, "What's so funny?"
"Funny? No, no, it's not that! I'm just happy." she replied with a smile on her face. "I feel like I'm beginning to understand my student a little. That's all."
"I'm more complex than you think." Squall said sternly.
Naruto chuckled a bit and shook his head. "If you say so buddy."
"Then tell me." Quistis suggested. "Tell me more about yourself."
"It's none of your…" Squall started to say before Quistis interrupted him.
"...business!" she exclaimed before breaking out into a fit of giggles. Squall could only sigh as he and Naruto followed after her.
Naruto smirked at his friend and shook his head. "She's got you figured out, buddy." he said before walking on ahead to join Quistis.
Squall sighed again and brought a hand to his face. Such a pain.
Classroom
After Squall and Naruto walked in and took their seats, Quistis entered and said, "Good morning, class. Let's start with today's schedule." Walking behind her desk, she looked at the class and continued saying, "There seem to have been some rumors flying around since yesterday… Yes, the field exam for SeeD candidates will begin later this afternoon."
Naruto was all smiles as he listened to Quistis talk. A couple of female students caught his eye however when they began to talk with each other. Shrugging, he tuned back in to what Quistis was saying.
"Those not participating and those who failed last week's written test are to remain here in study hall. Field exam participants will have free time until the exam. Just be sure you're in top condition." Quistis said. "Meet in the hall at 1600 hours. I'll announce the team assignments there. Any questions? Oh, and Seifer!" When she saw that she had Seifer's attention, she said, "Do NOT injure your partner while training. Be careful from now on."
Seifer looked at Squall for a moment before scoffing and slamming his fist on his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he returned his attention to the front of the classroom.
Naruto shot a glare at Seifer and shook his head in exasperation. He'll never learn. Stubborn asshole.
"Field exam participant, I will see you all later." Quistis said. "And Squall, Naruto, I need to talk to you two."
Naruto watched as the rest of the students filed out of the classroom, a few of them remaining behind to talk to Quistis. Standing up with Squall, the two of them approached the front of the classroom where Quistis was chatting with three of her students. Walking closer, they watched as the three students stepped away so that Squall and Naruto could talk to Quistis. So, approaching her, Naruto asked, "What's up Quistis-chan?"
"You two haven't been to the Fire Cavern yet, have you?" she asked. "You won't be able to take part in today's SeeD exam if you don't pass this prerequisite."
Squall folded his arms across his chest and scowled. ...I was gonna go this morning, but Seifer…
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "I would have gone earlier, but after I heard what happened to Squall, I decided to check on him in the infirmary."
Quistis nodded in understanding before turning to Squall. "Hm? Do you have a good excuse?"
"...Not really." Squall replied casually.
"Then let's get going." Quistis said. "If you're not too confident yet, you can review your studies at the study panel. I'll be waiting at the front gate, so come down when you're ready. You can access the study panel from your seat." and with that being said, Quistis turned around and made her way out of the room.
Squall and Naruto looked at each other before shrugging. "Might as well review our studies while we have the time." Naruto said before leading the way back up to their seats. As they sat down and turned on their computer terminals and their monitors, they began to browse through the tutorial. As soon as they did this, Squall received the GF Quezacotl while Naruto received the GF Shiva.
After examining the tutorial, Naruto opened up the menu titled 'The Basics' and began to read from there. The first thing he checked out was the 'About Magic' tab.
[Para-Magic]
'Magic' used by ordinary people is actually 'para-magic'. In essence, it is a technique which involves controlling energy. 'Para-magic' was developed by Dr. Odine. He was the first scientist to research the nature of magic by studying a sorceress. The skill can be gained through proper training. However, with magic, it is difficult to achieve power levels that are comparable to conventional weapons.
Naruto couldn't help but smile at that. I'm glad I came here. I never thought I'd get the chance to try out real magic. But in this world, it's possible! Even now I can't help but be excited by the prospect of it. He thought to himself with a grin. Reading on, he selected the GF (Guardian Force) tab.
[GF (Guardian Force)]
A GF is an independent energy force. By combining it with para-magic, it is possible to control tremendous energy. Memory loss is a possible side effect, but this has not been proven as of yet.
Naruto frowned as he read the last sentence of that entry. Memory loss, huh? That's a bit concerning, but I'm sure I'll be okay. He thought with a shrug. Selecting the last tab titled 'About Sorceresses and Magic', he continued reading.
[Sorceresses and Magic]
A woman who has inherited the power of a sorceress. The origins of the sorceress go back to ancient times during Hyne's reign. However, there is no factual evidence.
Naruto had no real opinion on that, so he backed out of 'The Basics' and selected the 'About Garden' tab. The first tab he selected was the 'Facility Rules' tab. Deciding to read them in order, he first selected 'Classroom' and began to read.
[Classroom]
- Students should be in their seats and waiting for the instructors 5 minutes before class.
- When class is over, proceed quietly to your next class.
- Food, weapons and magic are prohibited.
- Study panels are shared. Handle with care.
[Training Center]
- Proceed with caution. There are real monsters in the training center.
- It is open 24 hours. Entering the grounds for reasons other than training is prohibited.
- Do not engage in battles beyond your ability.
[Infirmary]
- Visit the infirmary if you have any health concerns or problems.
- No items may be taken from the infirmary without permission.
- Follow the doctor's instructions.
- Resident Physician: Doctor Kadowaki.
[Library]
- Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. - lights out.
- Library Usage: All materials are open to the public. You may check-out materials at the desk.
- Remain quiet at all times.
[Dormitory]
- Everybody is welcome to apply.
- SeeDs have priority for the single rooms.
- Going out after-hours for reasons other than training are prohibited.
- Do not leave personal possessions in common areas.
[Cafeteria]
- Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Keep the area clean.
- If late-night meals are required, order them beforehand.
Jeez, even now it's hard to believe how strict the rules are for this place. Naruto thought to himself after reading all of that. Still, it's worth it to stay here. Especially if it means I get to see Quistis every day.
Shrugging his shoulders again, Naruto opened up the 'Student Rules' tab and began to read.
[Garden Precepts]
- Work hard
- Study hard
- Play hard
[Attire]
In general, there is no dress code in Balamb Garden. However, dress accordingly if instructed to do so by your superiors.
[Reward and Punishment]
- The headmaster presents official commendations to outstanding students.
- Students who engage in violent acts, sexual promiscuity, or who fall behind in their curriculum, etc. may be expelled from Garden.
[Conduct]
- The skills acquired in the Garden must never be used for personal gain.
- Refrain from committing any acts that may damage the Garden's reputation.
- Take time to think things through before starting a relationship.
[Emergencies]
- Procedures in case of an emergency: If you are on the 2F, use the emergency exit next to the classroom. If you are on the 1F, exit through the front gate. All students must take care of junior classmen during emergencies.
- Do not use the elevator during an emergency.
[Evening Outings]
All students should be in their dorm rooms after-hours unless at the training center.
Naruto sighed as he finished reading. I wonder if that's why Quistis won't go out with me? Because of all the rules? Or is it something else…? Looking over at Squall, Naruto couldn't help but frown for a moment before returning his attention to his monitor. She seems awfully fond of him. Why not me? Sighing again, he opened the 'Admission & Graduation Info' tab and began to read.
[Admission]
- Applicants between ages 5 - 15 are admitted.
- All hardworking and confident youths are welcome.
- Ambitious overachievers are also welcome.
- Applicants are admitted only after passing a final interview.
[Graduation]
- Must be between 15 - 19 years of age.
- One must have all the required skills and knowledge taught through the Garden courses.
- One must have the headmaster's approval to graduate.
- At age 20, regardless of graduation, all students are released from the Garden.
[Opportunities for Alumni]
- The Garden supports a program that helps graduates enlist in armies all over the world.
- Instructors and SeeDs are permitted to remain at the Garden. However, SeeDship must be attained before the age of 20.
Heh, Quistis really helped me out with the headmaster. I'm lucky I was allowed to enroll here. I still need to graduate before the age of 20, but I think I'll be alright. No problem. Naruto thought to himself with a grin. Selecting 'Garden Info', he continued reading.
[About Balamb Garden]
- Balamb Garden Headmaster: Cid Kramer
- Balamb Garden Proprietor: Master NORG
- Balamb Garden was the first Garden built in accordance with Headmaster Cid's ideals and dreams.
[About Trabia Garden]
A Garden in the Trabia region. There is an exchange program between Trabia and Balamb Garden.
[About Galbadia Garden]
A Garden in the Galbadia Republic. It is the largest Garden of the three. Galbadia Garden's master, Martine, who is also the headmaster, has set up a program to recruit Balamb graduates into the Galbadian Army.
Have to admit, I like where I'm at now. I have no interest in joining the army of another nation. I just want to stay here and be near Quistis. Naruto thought to himself with a small smile on his face. Selecting the tab titled 'SeeD Info', the eighteen year-old blonde continued reading.
[What is a SeeD?]
Balamb Garden's mercenaries. Commanding GF, they have special fighting abilities. They work in small teams and operate all over the world.
[Dispatching SeeDs]
SeeDs are deployed all over the world. Their services are requested by governments and even civilians. Their tasks range from providing military support to protecting civilians.
[Qualifications for SeeD]
Students can apply after the age of 15. Passing the written test and completing an official mission are required to become a SeeD. SeeDs are paid according to rank.
Makes me wonder if the other Gardens have GF's as well. As for SeeDs, there are obvious similarities and differences between how things worked in my world and how they work here. Have to admit, I like the idea of a SeeD much more than I liked the ninja life. Still can't believe some of the 'missions' from back home. Just a bunch of lazy civilians demanding ninja do their chores for them. Naruto thought to himself with a grumble.
Backing out of the 'About Garden' tab, he selected the tab saying 'A Message from Garden' and then selected the tab saying 'Garden Events'.
[Garden Events]
Spring - Memorial Service, Entrance Ceremony, SeeD Exam (Written/Field)
Summer - Garden Festival, Summer Vacation
Autumn - Student-Sponsored Event
Winter - Winter Vacation
[Cafeteria Announcements]
The competition for the hot dogs and meals is really getting out of hand. We are doing our best to provide everyone with enough food, so please be patient and conduct yourselves in an orderly fashion. Thank you. As you well know, magic and weapons are prohibited inside the cafeteria.
[Disciplinary Committee Announcements]
- Follow all disciplinary committee rules. This applies to junior classmen, too.
- Do not bring animals inside the Garden.
- Report seeing any unusual bugs in the Garden.
- Do not litter.
[Library Committee Announcements]
The following materials are overdue. Please return them to the library immediately.
- "Insect Guidebook (Color Edition) - Raijin
- "Goodbye Pupurun" - Raijin
The following requested materials have arrived.
- "Edible Flowers"
- "Turbine Engines (Revised Edition)"
- "We Meet Again, Pupurun"
- "The Sorceress' Knight (Scenario Edition)
Have to admit, I'm looking forward to the Garden Festival. And hot dogs...yum. Who knew there was such a delicious food?! I didn't think there were idiots that would bring weapons into the cafeteria though. Guess I was proven wrong. As for the Disciplinary Committee, they can suck it. They're obnoxious. Naruto thought to himself after reading the various notices. Backing out of the 'A Message from Garden' tab, he selected the 'Garden Square' tab next.
[Garden Square]
- Your opinions are important to make our Garden a better place. Write them down and place them in the drop box.
- I got first! Trepies forever, baby. Man, I wanna go out with her. - Trepe Groupie #1
- Hey! Trepe Groupie #1, you gotta name, dumbass?
- I'm gonna kick your ass. What's your name?
- Oh I'm so scared. I'm sooo scared! Big loser.
- I should kick both of your sorry asses. This is not for your silly games, got it? - Xu
- I don't want the disciplinary committee to get on my case, so I'm not writing my name. - J.I.
- What? Who's J.I.? Who are you? - Almasy
- See? They're so nosy. Good thing I went with my initials. - J.I.
- I'll go with initials, too. Hey, does anyone know if the new hot dogs are good? I haven't tried them yet. - Z.D.
- Oh yeah! They're the best! Man, you're missing out. - M.S.
- Damn...I missed it again. - Z.D.
- Hey Z.D., you have your exam today, right? Good luck, man! - M.S.
- Z.D., I hope you do well on your exam. Be careful, alright? - Librarian
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Z.D. is definitely Zell. I'm looking forward to taking the exam with him and Squall today. Backing out of the 'Garden Square' tab, he clicked on the yellow tab titled 'The School Festival Committee'.
Thanks for looking at this page. But there won't be any updates for a while. That's because I, the Garden Festival chair, will be leaving Garden. I did not strive to be a SeeD, and I won't even graduate. I devoted all my time to the Garden Festival, my passion… But in the end, there was no Garden Festival. That's 'cause no one volunteered to help out. But I have only myself to blame. I thought I, alone, could pull it off. I'll be starting a new life, but I sincerely hope someone will take over the Garden Festival committee!
Good-bye Balamb Garden! ~Wimbly Donner
Huh. Wasn't expecting that. I wonder if anyone will take that upon themselves or not? Heck, if no one else will, I might as well help out with it! Naruto thought as he shut off his terminal and the monitor as well.
Taking a moment to junction Shiva to him, he switched what she was learning to the Boost ability, figuring it would be smartest to choose that first for combat purposes. Looking to Squall, he could see that he had just finished up as well. So, standing from their seats, they looked at one another and nodded in sync. "Time to go?" Naruto questioned.
Squall nodded his head. "Of course. Let's go get this over with." he said before the two of them left the classroom together and proceeded down the hall.
As they rounded the corner, they heard a female voice shouting, "I'm late! I'm late! I'm LATE!" before Squall was bumped into by a person he'd never seen before. "Waaah!" she exclaimed as she fell on her butt.
Naruto snickered a bit as he helped the girl to her feet. "You okay there?" he questioned.
Squall looked at her and asked, "Are you ok?"
Looking from Naruto to Squall, she gave him a beatific smile and said, "Tee-hee, I'm fine. Sorry. I was kinda in a hurry." she admitted somewhat shamefully. After a moment however, she came to a realization. "Oh yeah! Hey, did you just come from that class? Is…...homeroom over?"
Squall nodded while Naruto said, "Yep, 'fraid so. I hope you don't get in any trouble for missing it like this."
The unfamiliar girl poked her fingers together as she began to panic. "Woo… Oh, nooo… This place is soooo much bigger than my last Garden! Oh, hey, hey. I just transferred here. Do you think you could give me a quick tour of this Garden?" she asked hopefully.
Naruto looked to his friend and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see why not. What do you think, Squall?"
Squall sighed as he thought it over. Weighing the pros and cons, he eventually shook his head and said, "Sure."
The girl cheered as she bounced up and down excitedly. "Whoo-hoo! Alright, let's go!"
"We'll take the elevator to the 1F lobby and I'll show you the directory." Squall said. Afterwards, he and Naruto led her towards the elevator. On the way however, they saw someone standing nearby.
Walking up to the person, Squall initiated conversation with him. "Oh, hey, would you like to have these?" the person asked as he showed a small collection of cards to the scarred individual. "My brother gave me these cards but they're really not my thing. You can have them if you'd like."
Taking the cards presented to him, Squall asked him how the game was played. "What? How do you play a card game? Hmmm, I think it'd be best to look at the card game explanations in the Tutorial. I don't know much about it, really." the person said somewhat ashamedly. "If you want to play cards with someone, just go up and ask them for a game. But keep in mind, not everyone is a card player. Oh, and by the way, I don't play, so don't bother challenging me."
Walking up to Squall, Naruto patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, mind if I see what cards you got?"
Squall shrugged his shoulders and handed the cards to his friend. "Sure. Here you go Naruto."
Taking the cards presented to him, Naruto looked them over with a frown. Geezard, Funguar, Red Bat, Gayla, Gesper, Fastitocalon-F, and Caterchipillar, huh? Not exactly the greatest deck to start out with, but you have to start somewhere, I suppose. Naruto thought to himself before handing Squall back the cards. "I'd recommend playing a bunch of people here in the Garden before we meet up with Quistis. You need to build your deck up with better cards. If you need any help or just can't seem to get a certain card, I'd be glad to help you out. I wouldn't recommend challenging me though, 'cause I wouldn't take it easy on you, buddy. Other people though? No problem." Naruto suggested with a smile.
"If you say so, Naruto." Squall replied as he looked at the cards he was given. Shrugging, he slipped them away before the three of them ventured onto the elevator to head down to the 1F.
Upon arriving on the 1F, Squall took a few steps forward before pointing at something set up a few feet from the bottom of the stairs. "That's the directory." he said before leading Naruto and Selphie to it.
Pointing at the screen, Squall said, "Well, this is it. Balamb Garden is pretty big. It's a good idea to check where you want to go here and then make your way around this floor until you get to where you want to go. Trust me, for newcomers, this directory is a lifesaver." Taking a breath, Squall continued by saying, "Next, I'll give a quick explanation of the various facilities."
"Yes, sir!" the girl exclaimed with a bright smile on her face.
"You'll find the dormitory to the north. A majority of the students live in the dorms. There aren't too many students who commute." Squall explained.
"Yeah, I'm in the dorms, too!" the girl shouted out.
"You can rest and change in there." the scarred teenager explained. "West of the North Block is the cafeteria. There's always a big rush for the hot dogs. You better get used to waiting in line."
"Got it!" the girl exclaimed.
"East of the North Block is the parking lot. We usually take the Garden car when a mission comes up." Squall explained. "The front gate is located to the south…" That's right… Naruto and I have to go meet Instructor Trepe at the front gate.
"Hm? What's the matter?" the girl asked as she noticed Squall seemed distracted for a moment.
"Nothing…" Squall replied. "Next, we have the quad, located in the West Block. There's an event being planned there…" he said before being interrupted by the girl.
"I know! I know! It's the Garden Festival! It's going to be great! I'm planning to be on the committee. You wanna help out, too!?" she exclaimed joyfully.
Before Squall could say anything, Naruto smiled at her and said, "I'd be glad to. Not sure about my buddy here, but I'll gladly join and help you out."
Squall sighed and said, "Let's just continue. South of the West Block is the infirmary. This is where you get treated for your injuries, but a lot of students just come here for advice."
"What's the doctor's name?" the girl asked curiously.
"Doctor Kadowaki." Squall replied. "Now the East Block. This is the training center. It's the only facility open at night. It's used for training, and they have real monster running loose here. If you don't take it seriously, you may end up dead. Just be careful."
The girl gulped nervously. "...Okay."
Squall continued by saying, "South of the East Block is the library. There's a lot of material you can look up here, but the terminals in the classroom are a lot more efficient. And you already know about the classroom on the 2F, right?"
The brown-haired girl said, "Yep, I remember that one."
"By the way, the headmaster's office is located on the 3F. You need permission to get in." Squall explained.
"Another question. What's the headmaster's name?" the girl asked.
"Headmaster Cid." Squall said. "That's about it. Anything else?"
"Got it!" the girl exclaimed. "Heeey, um...are you taking today's SeeD exam?"
Squall said, "Yeah."
Naruto smiled at the girl and nodded his head. "We both are actually."
"Then maybe I'll see you again, later. I've already finished my training at my previous Garden. I'm taking the SeeD exam today, too. Good luck to both of us, huh!?" she shouted. "See you later!"
Naruto watched her leave with a smile on his face. "Well she's a cute one. I like her. What did you think of her Squall?"
Squall sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "Way too energetic for me. But she seems nice. You thinking of asking her out?"
The blonde shook his head. "You know I'm set on Quistis-chan, Squall. But...she refuses to go out with me and I can't figure out why. It...hurts bad, man. I like her so much, more than I've ever liked anyone, but she refuses to be with me. I don't know if it's because I'm her student or what, but…"
The scarred teenager nodded and patted his friend on the back. "If it's because you're her student, then all you have to do is pass the exam and become a full fledged SeeD. You won't be her student anymore, you'll be on an equal level with her. Maybe that's all she's waiting for. But, if things don't work out, you should try to move on from her. That's the best advice I can think of to give you. You're my friend Naruto, and I hate to see you hurting like this."
Naruto knew that Squall didn't talk much to other people and didn't really open up much, but with him, Squall seemed to feel more comfortable. Comfortable enough to say more than he usually does at any rate. Smiling thankfully at his friend, the whiskered blonde nodded in understanding. "It would be really hard to do that, but I understand what you're saying. Maybe I will have to find someone else. But...I really don't want to. Know what I mean?"
Squall nodded in understanding. "I know. But if it helps, you have Zell and me on your side. If you need to, you can feel free to talk to us. I can't promise I'll have anything helpful to say, but I'll at least listen to you."
"I know. Thanks Squall." Naruto said, smiling at his friend.
After they had their little conversation, Naruto took Squall around and helped him get the hang of the Triple Triad card game. Whenever he needed help, Naruto would offer some helpful advice that allowed him to win his card games.
Upon entering the cafeteria, they came across the members of the Disciplinary Committee: Seifer Almasy, Fujin, and Raijin. The only female of the group, someone that Naruto found to be a rather attractive young woman, spoke up. "SEIFER. DRINK?" She said.
"Y'know, no matter how many times I hear her talk, it's always weird to me." Naruto whispered to Squall. Squall just smirked in response.
"..." Seifer remained quiet, not saying a thing.
"...Can I drink somethin'? I'd like some water, ya know." Raijin asked.
"And then there's Raijin. He's got a verbal tic just like mine. Always saying 'ya know' at the end of his sentences. Very weird." Naruto whispered again. Squall couldn't help but smile in amusement at this.
"...IGNORE." Fujin replied, much to Raijin's dismay.
"..." Seifer just looked at Raijin without saying a word.
"Is he okay? He seems kind of...out of it, I guess?" Naruto questioned as he looked at Seifer. Squall just shrugged in response.
Squall walked up to Raijin and initiated conversation with him. "Yo, it's Squall. Oh yeah, Fujin's gonna treat, ya know? Want somethin'?" Raijin asked with a grin on his face.
"RAGE!" Fujin exclaimed before approaching Raijin.
"?" Raijin looked at Fujin with a brow raised in curiosity. When Fujin kicked him in the leg, he jumped before doubling over holding his leg. "!" he exclaimed incoherently. "Ahh… Ouuu… Ahh…"
Squall and Naruto just sighed at this. "You kind of had that one coming Rai." Naruto said. "She said she was going to ignore you and then you go and say something like that." Naruto said as he shook his head.
Raijin nodded slowly before turning to Squall and whispering to him. "Squall, psst...psst...psst…" he said at first to get Squall's attention. "Fujin's kinda harsh at times so you betta watch it too, ya know?"
Fujin narrowed her eyes in anger as she looked at Raijin. She had obviously heard what he said as she soon asked, "WHAT?"
Raijin quickly began to wave his hands in front of his face as he turned to Fujin. "O-Oh! I-It's nothin'!"
It was at this point that a familiar blonde rushed past them and up to the counter. "Huff, huff, heave, heave…" It was obvious he was trying to catch his breath from all the running he had just done.
Naruto quirked a brow in amusement as he watched his friend, Zell, speak to the person behind the counter. "D-Do you have any...hot dogs left?" the tattooed young man asked hopefully.
The Cafeteria Lady shook her head and offered Zell an awkward smile. "You're a bit late, I'm afraid. We're all sold out!"
At hearing this, Zell slumped over and shouted, "Damn! Not again…! It's hopeless if you don't get here early… Alright, I'll try again next time…"
As Zell began to leave, the Cafeteria Lady shouted at him, "I'll try to order more, but there's no guarantee!"
… Raijin was speechless and wasn't even sure what to think about what he had just witnessed. ...Ya know.
Naruto, on the other hand, chuckled to himself. "Poor guy, he's almost always too late to get here for the hot dogs. They're absolutely delicious." Squall nodded in agreement with that statement.
Seifer palmed his face and shook his head. "...Speeding. Let's go arrest that student for violation of academy regulations." he said before running off after Zell.
"AFFIRMATIVE!" Fujin exclaimed before following after him.
"Roger, ya know!" Raijin exclaimed before giving chase as well.
Squall approached the cafeteria lady on the left and began talking with her. Listening in on what she was saying, Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at Squall's own personal Hell. He's just listening to everything she says. I'm amazed he hasn't bolted.
When the lady finished speaking finally, Squall walked back over to Naruto and said, "Don't say a word."
"Wasn't gonna." Naruto replied honestly. "I was wondering if she'd ever shut up though, what with how she kept prattling on about pretty much nothing we'd care about."
"Tell me about it." Squall said irritably before leading the way out of the cafeteria.
Upon entering the Quad, they bumped into that same girl they had helped earlier. She tried asking Squall if he played an instrument, but he just ignored her and continued walking. Naruto, on the other hand, replied to her inquiry with a kind smile on his face. "I took up playing the saxophone. Does that help?"
The girl cheered and said, "That's great! You'd be a big help if you joined up now!"
Naruto nodded and said, "Well, I'll gladly help you out when I get the time. Right now we're kind of busy though. Maybe later I can stop by?"
The green-eyed girl smiled at Naruto and grabbed his hand, shaking it a few times. "Thank you so much! You don't know what this means to me!"
"Hey, no problem. I'll be sure to stop by later, I promise. Take care of yourself!" Naruto said before he and Squall walked off.
When they entered the next area of the Quad, they were surprised to see Selphie come rushing past them. When Squall tried talking to her, she asked if he was interested in what she was doing. The scarred young man nodded slowly, and the girl exclaimed that he should join the Garden Festival Committee. When asked if he would join, he sighed and said, "Sure."
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at this. This girl was going to drive poor Squall insane if she kept this up. Ah well, it'll be good for him to get involved in something like this. Telling her that they'd help her later, the duo left the Quad and continued their exploration of the Garden.
After they had finished exploring and Squall had a good deck of cards to choose from, the two SeeD candidates ventured to the front gate to meet Quistis. Upon arriving, they saw that Quistis had changed into a different outfit after leaving them earlier. Naruto blushed a bit as he saw her, thinking she looked absolutely beautiful in her new clothes. Noticing this, Quistis sighed and shook her head. I'm sorry Naruto, but I can't return your feelings. It just wouldn't be right. She thought to herself with a frown.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Quistis began to speak. "I have a few things to explain before we head off. GF gives us strength. The stronger the GF, the stronger we become. ...So, here's a brief explanation on junctioning a GF." She went on to explain how to junction a GF, which both of them already knew. This lesson was more of a recap of knowledge they already knew, but they paid attention regardless so she wouldn't get angry at them.
Once she had finished her explanation, Quistis asked, "Everything ok up till now? You can always check back by accessing the Tutorial from your terminal back in the classroom." When her two students nodded to show they understood, she continued by saying, "Once we get to the Fire Cavern, I'll explain how to junction magic. Use your Draw ability during battle and stock magic from your enemies. Be sure to have some stocked!" Again, this was basic recap stuff as the duo had gone into the Training Center and battled some Grats enemies, drawing 100 Sleep and Silence spells from them.
"Ready to go? The Fire Cavern used for the test is located east of here." Quistis said before she turned and began leading the way away from Balamb Garden.
As she walked ahead of them, Naruto couldn't help but smile. I hope you return my feelings someday soon Quistis-chan. You mean more to me than you could possibly know.
Fire Cavern
The party of three had spent time battling monsters so Naruto and Squall could Draw and stock magic from the various monsters roaming the area around Balamb Garden. Afterwards, they junctioned the magic to themselves to power themselves up somewhat. After a time, they decided it was time to head for the Fire Cavern, so that is where they went.
Upon arriving, Quistis stopped them and said, "Ok… Junctioning magic. Now pay attention. I'll be explaining how to utilize the magic you have stocked." After this, she went into 'teacher mode' as Naruto called it. She went through a long explanation about how to junction magic, but again, this was simply a recap, considering the fact that Squall and Naruto had junctioned magic to specific stats of theirs anyways.
Once she had finished her explanation, she continued by saying, "When you draw a new magic, try experimenting with it when you junction. This is how you become stronger." Taking a breath, she asked, "Ok, ready to go?"
Naruto went to answer for both himself and Squall, but Quistis seemed to have remembered something as she exclaimed, "Oh! You know how to use your gunblade…?" she asked Squall.
"...I guess I'll review it." he muttered.
"It's better to go over it." Quistis said before once again going into lecture mode, explaining how to go about using the gunblade. Once she had finished, she said, "Alright, let's go!"
Approaching the entrance to the cave, the party of three saw two men standing guard. Stepping up to them, Naruto initiated conversation with them. "Objective: To obtain a low-level GF. A SeeD member must support. Are you ready?" the man explained.
"We're ready." Squall said.
"I'm his support." Quistis said. "Instructor No. 14, Quistis Trepe."
The man nodded once before saying, "Select a time limit. Choose one suited to your abilities. Challenging yet reasonable. Your options are 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 40 minutes."
Squall and Naruto looked at one another before nodding to each other, almost as if they had read each other's minds. Looking back to the man, Naruto said, "10 minutes."
"Very well. Good luck." the man said before he and his partner stepped aside to allow the three of them entrance into the cavern.
Once inside and the time limit had started, Naruto took point and began to lead the party through the Fire Cavern, the three of them occasionally being stopped by enemies, forcing them to fight if they wanted to get through. As they proceeded through the cavern, Quistis talked to them, explaining that she was only there as support while the majority of the work would be left up to the two of them. She also joked about how whenever she went with a student as their support, the boys would often choke due to her presence. Hearing this caused Naruto to scowl, and he was glad that she couldn't see his face from her spot behind him and Squall. She'll never take me seriously, will she? He wondered to himself as he continued to lead the party.
Upon reaching the farthest chamber in the cavern, Quistis said that it was time before asking them if they were ready. Looking at her, Naruto nodded. "I'm more than ready for this. Let's do it!" he exclaimed before turning around to face the GF that appeared: Ifrit. "Time to kick some ass!"
A/N - Okay, that's the end of the chapter. As you can no doubt see, Naruto is crazy about Quistis, but she refuses to be with him. Why? I dunno! lol.
Also, it's obvious to see that he's best friends with Zell Dincht and Squall Leonhart. So if Squall seems out of character, he's only like that around Naruto. Naruto gets him and also, he has that kind of ability to bring people out of their shells, y'know?
The next chapter will have Naruto's gang vs. Ifrit and the SeeD field exam. It should be pretty interesting!
Anyways, I can't think of much else to say, sooo...I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Not sure what I'll work on next.