Running with her partner, TenTen was glad to see the exit starting to come into view. They had to go through a few rooms full of Enclave getting slaughtered by robots as they tried to stop them.

Making their way through to the ever louder bombardments of the base, as it was slowly becoming volatile to destroy itself from within, the two got through the door out to the garage area, where the walls turned to stone instead of metal and the air became much thinner. "We're almost out, let's go!"

With a push and shove, the door opened and the duo made it to the surface, watching as the final Vertibirds were making themselves scarce from the hangars around them. They watched as laser fire was trying to tear the birds apart as they left, but the flying machines made it out of range.

Moving to the open, Naruto looked around. "Alright… Now to find Fawkes, and get to the rendezvous point for Itachi."

They were met with a voice calling from a little higher up making their way to the gate. "Friends!"

Turning, they saw a huge Super Mutant with a giant weapon in hand. Seeing the jumpsuit, and the fact they heard the word friend, TenTen was smiling. "Fawkes! You came to help!"

After getting off the base and walking closer, he was grinning. "Of course! I would not leave you to be tormented like I was! You saved me from that, and it is a debt I would die to repay!"

"The dying part will not be required. Thank you, Fawkes." Jumping up she gave him a hug, which freaked him out a moment before remembering such things. Knowing his strength, he just gently pats her back.

As she got on her feet again, Naruto noticed something. "On your back… Are those what I think they are?"

On the giant Meta's back was a backpack with two rifles handing out of them. Solemnly, Fawkes nodded. "Itachi asked me to hold these. And to give you something, as we left. Here, this strange device." Grabbing it and handing it to the blonde, it was the sleek model Pip-boy.

They had no chance to stay and listen for now, as the base started rumbling and the outside blowing up. "Shit! Not enough time!" It was true, and the group saw several Vertibirds taking off from all around the other side of the base. Running, the trio started as fast as they could in any direction away from the exploding base.

Heading eastbound, the three managed to make their way far enough that the base finally being engulfed by a fireball was not going to do them any harm for the time being. "Shit… SHIT!" Instantly, Naruto was getting Itachi's Readius up and running, and it didn't take long.

Activating it turned on the recording left for him. "Naruto, sorry you have to find out this way. This was always the plan."

"Fuck…"

"Whether or not I succeed, you'll never see me again. I will eventually die, I only had about a month left in me anyway. Mr. House had released a neurotoxin into my brain when I left the Mojave. I managed to lessen the damage after meeting up with the Brotherhood out in Missouri, and stop it overall, but the damage done by then was great enough that it left a tumor that's slowly grown in my brain. Every medical professional since has given me estimates that have been consistent. Hell, my favorite doctor in Underworld gave me two months a month ago. He'd know about tumors, wouldn't he? I am leaving everything but one weapon with Fawkes, I know you'll put all my things to good use. The data for your old Vault and the residents that survived, and their status as best I can find, are in the Pip-Boy. I am only sorry I leave you like this. And if Sasuke doesn't listen, and still wants to follow the Enclave, and to kill you… Please, make his death painless. He deserves one kindness in this world. Itachi, Fifth Infantry Desert Ranger, Signing out. And Godspeed."

Naruto stood still, having put his arm down as the message played further. Tears in his eyes, he looked towards the base. "Damn it… You should have told me…"

Feeling a hand on him, the man turned to see TenTen give a nod to him. He groaned and sighed as he pocketed the thing and turned to Fawkes. "My rifle, big man." Getting it quickly, he checked its power status and spun the four small sections in a rotary around.

The weapon was a shock to the bun-haired woman. It was like a Laser Rifle that ate other Laser Rifles. The stock was a steel rod with padding where it is placed on the shoulder, with the main mechanics of the Laser Rifle normally. Though that was where things went from curious to out of control, as it had a rotary bar that spun 4 thin, small, and long box-like devices that were held on by a thick grip on the bottom of it and a rotating device that connected to the end of the gun, which was a funnel lens it seemed. "What kind of gun is that?"

Choosing to find a way to think ahead instead of for Itachi, in their current situation, he explained. "When you become a full member of the Brotherhood, you get a fully functional and stock Laser Rifle to show your status as part of the order. When you receive it, you take an oath to never lose your rifle under any circumstances. You must die with the rifle in hand before anyone takes it from you. Once it is yours, you maintain it and modify it at your leisure as long as it is capable of passing yearly weapon tests. I've been with the Brotherhood since I was still a kid, ten years old. I was a Knight at thirteen, first mission guarding your mom and dad. Been nineteen years since then, several of which I was in exile. I modified my rifle to my liking, and I've kept it in storage for years. Every year I made sure it was ready. Now, time to use it. Let's march on. We need to get ourselves back to the CItadel."

"Wow… Wait!" In awe for the awesome rifle in hand, she almost missed the last part, where he said they were going back to the Brotherhood headquarters. "You can't! They'll kill you!"

"Not anymore. Thanks to you, the Elder got everything he needed from my mission reports that my backup option worked. I turned my Pip-Boy back on with the transmission module, sent a short-range burst to him, and I was accepted back into the ranks of the Brotherhood. Naruto Uzumaki is no longer an Outcast Exile to be shot on sight. I am once again a full Paladin of the order. And right now, we're in the thick of it. The Enclave might try to regroup and find us, and we need to get back to Lyons to see what to do about the Purifier."

That explained much, and it was relieving to hear such news… But she looked to Fawkes. "They'll still shoot our Meta-Human friend on sight…"

"Do not worry, Naruto has thought of that. Cross has already mentioned by now my presence, and my wish to ally with her, you, and Naruto. As long as I am weaponless at the gates, I will be given an 'on watch' probation until we have successfully ended this fight against the Enclave."

"I see." The thought that everything was taken care of was pretty scary to think about, as she'd only focused on the main task at hand.

Seeing her shock, her partner shook her a bit. "Hey, I get it. But we really can't be standing around. Right now, we get to hiding. As much as I hate to risk it, we should head east. If Eden is right, the Enclave wouldn't dare risk a spot they've deemed uninhabitable from the looks of things alone. Whatever that lush forest they saw is, be it irradiated to hell and back or not, we should take that chance. Fawkes and I can get in and figure things out, and you can hold by whatever we find as a way in that's hidden from view. We make sure there's no traffic around, and try and get south to the Citadel without running into anything hostile on the way that could kill us. Sound good to you?"

Knowing he was right, she nodded. "Let's go then… Lead the way." That said, Naruto led the trio out east, hoping to find whatever this place that potentially held Project China could be.

XxX ~xxx~ XxX

Landing the aircraft at their last bastion of safety, Colonel Autumn left his Vertibird to see what their forces looked like. The scattered troops before were almost all accounted for when the base blew, and they still had their hold on the Purifier, though now they had to find ways of fortifying their forces until they could finish their preparations. Coming to his First Officer, the new leader of the entire force spoke. "Give me every report regarding our forces, son. I need to know what we have."

"Yes, Sir!" The still young officer started gathering the intel reports when another Vertibird set down nearby.

The bird opened and what jumped out shook the ground a moment, causing everyone to turn to see a pitch-black suit of armor that stood tallest amongst the rest of them. "Well, it seems we've all arrived… I was the last bird out."

"Major Sasuke." Colonel Autumn knew that voice, synthesized or not from the helmet. "You are wearing our greatest single unit operational armor ever built. Mind explaining yourself?"

"Don't think I should… The tone suggests you don't agree with securing our best assets, making it clear he was right." His steps stomping the ground from the weight of the rather advanced power armor suit. "You would throw away the entire Enclave if it meant getting it your way."

Giving a very harsh glare, the Colonel was not happy with the toner of voice. "Major, I suggest you turn that tone around. I've wanted nothing but the Enclave to prosper and save this great nation from the hell it's endured. I'll admit, I do not approve of your focus at the base being to secure top-secret projects, but I would never reprimand you for it. The fact you survive and have made sure our enemies did not steal our technology by making it of use to us is cause for celebration. Whether I approve or not is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things."

Huffing, the armored individual held his rifle close. "Shikamaru told me everything. You planned to use a retrovirus to kill anyone who had been mutated by radiation or the FEV. I can't say it wasn't a bad thing to get rid of those monstrosities called Ghouls… or those Mirelurks, even. The world would be better without Super Mutants, too. But you forget, you promised me power and authority, and the power you gave me came from the FEV, a power that is killing me from the inside out from the experiments you performed on me. You and Eden were going to use the killing virus and I'd be long gone by the time I knew what it even was. You promised I'd survive to be the best of your forces!"

Finally finding out what was the topic of discussion, Autumn chuckled. "Oh, is that all? Shikamaru left you a parting gift, did he? The man was Eden's lapdog, though he will never know the truth of the matter. Yes, Eden and I did agree to use that Retrovirus, and we would have. But not until I had modified it further to prevent it from killing your specific genome. See, Major, the virus was modified already, from the original strain we'd have used back west during the Oil Rig disaster in California. Eden would have used the virus immediately, I would have used it after safely delivering the perfected Project Greenland into your hands. One of the reasons I countermanded every single order he gave on the matter. I was stalling for time to save you, son. But now, things have taken a turn. I do not know what became of the virus, and even if it did get blown up with the base we'd be safe here until I found a counteractive agent for you. I promised you glory and make you the savior of this great country, and I am doing everything in my power to make it so. Give me time, and I'll show you."

Not exactly knowing what to believe, it was clear Autumn was telling him enough to keep him pacified. Maybe it was the truth, maybe not, but what did he have to lose by believing the one who has kept their word so far? "Fine… Colonel. What now?"

"Now… We take stock of our situation and the situation from Raven Rock. Two Vertibirds are out searching for survivors of any kind and delivering progress reports on the air quality. If the virus combusted, it would turn into an aerosol for the immediate area, which would eventually spread enough to cause a safe zone free of all radiation and be deadly to even Super Mutants. Not ideal, especially for you. The radius of the aerosol would be enough to reach Vault 87. Sit tight, and within the hour we'll have a plan of action."

"Yes, Sir… And keep me informed about Naruto."

"Will do, Major. Check-in on your newest recruits. The Hellfire Squadron is our final resort in case we lose the Purifier."

With that, the younger Uchiha started in the direction pointed by his superior officer. He noticed his new second in command. "Captain Umino… This is a surprise."

Turning on the spot and giving a salute, he commanded the troops. "Officer on deck!" The command rang and the troops gave their salute as well. "Major Sasuke, sir, it will be a privilege to work under you. Hellfire Squadron is waiting for orders."

"At ease, Captain. Orders are to stand by until further notice, guard the airfield and make ready all preparations. Our secret weapon is our primary objective, we'll need it for Liberty Prime. Let's just hope those Brotherhood pieces of shit are dumber than they look and won't have it up for a few months. Get the team to the range, I want to see what our newest ranks can do beforehand."

"Roger, Sir!" Turning to the troops, Iruka called the orders. "MOVE OUT! You heard the Major, target practice! Show what you got!" He ran the troops down the field of the airbase, keeping them going like well-trained soldiers.

XxX ~xxx~ XxX

The trio made their way to a fort, passing it by was their first stop along the route east. As they did, Naruto's Pip-Boy, alongside TenTen's recognized a military blip on their system. As the readout on the screen came up, Naruto almost went bug-eyed. "Fort Constantine? He said it was way past Raven Rock… No way."

Not knowing what was going on, TenTen brought up a question. "What's this place? Why so important?"

Seeing a chance of a lifetime here, as they wouldn't be coming back for a long time if at all, Naruto started walking to it. "Remember the key I had one of Dukov's girls, Cherry, give me? There are four in total I was asked to get for a Ghoul back in Underworld. He's a piece of shit, but he said there was a military secret hidden here, one that was worth a fortune. That means it has to be some top-of-the-line stuff to either make shit go boom or protect us from becoming the shit that goes boom. If it can give us an edge getting back, I'll be all for it." Knowing he was not leading them as team leader, just with them as friends, he shook his head from just rushing in. "But, what are your takes on it?"

Fawkes was simple. "If it can give us a hand? It is useful. Anything useful would be better in our hands than our enemies."

"If it's even still there. How long has this base been close to Raven Rock? And the Enclave never even thought to come here? It could have been a rumor that turned into a scheme for money." TenTen didn't like the idea of detours right now, for several reasons. But, considering their options and if the stories were true, she trusted her friends more than her own judgment currently. "On the off chance it's something we'd regret not having, we'd better get it quick."

"Wouldn't have it another way." Smiling, Naruto chose to lead them in. "I got Dukov's key heading to Rivet City, and a year back I met with this guy named Dave, seems he was salty for losing an election in his settlement for leadership and left entirely. He gave me his key, and I got the one from the kid in Rivet City whose dad was a part of it all. The last key was something I got trying to find you, TenTen."

"Finding me? What does that have to do with a key?"

"It's a painful memory for you… But when you went and did your own thing after finding James, I went to the Robco facility to lead your father back to safety along the southern road past the Citadel. He asked me to find you and make sure you were alright, he had a bad feeling. Turns out, he was right to. I followed your trail to Tenpenny, who had the third key."

He was right, hearing that name caused her heart to feel a pang of guilt. "I see…"

"If you feel bad that the entire place became a mass grave, I understand… The guilt of being the cause of such death is hard. But never shed a tear for that asshole Tenpenny, he was still a piece of shit. If he'd have his way, all Ghouls would die, and he'd have had Megaton become a crater if you recall."

"Yeah… Still. He had a key?"

"He, Dave, Dukov, and this guy's father from Rivet City all had keys for the fort. They were contracted to find the legendary treasure here, Tenpenny as the leader who somehow hired a Ghoul strangely. They couldn't do it, they left in a hurry and split. The Ghoul was not happy, and wanted someone, anyone, to grab the keys, by murder if needed. I took the job as long as the murder part was a last resort. He agreed as long as Tenpenny was still reported dead one day."

Making their way into the fort, up the road past the smaller buildings, they found the main building next to a silo. "Whoa, alright. This is something I've only known from books… Is it possible this place fired a nuke during the war?"

Humming, sniffing the air, their Meta-Human friend had other ideas. "The stench of radiation, it covered this place. It is still very strong, so they may never have fired this missile."

That got the blonde's blood pumping. Though he tensed, he ignored his thoughts until he knew for sure what was going on. They tried to get in through the doors, but even melting the outer locks was a no-go, as the hole made shown a metal shutter that blocked further access. "Well, that's tough. No keyhole on the shutters, so it's an internal system…"

"Maybe there's a backdoor in the buildings back there?" TenTen looked to them.

Knowing SIlo bases out west, the soldier of their group hummed. "It wouldn't be in the offices… That shack is a little strange though. Let's look there."

Taking their time back down, the three got into the house, and down into the basement to find a large security door and a rotting corpse of someone nearby, making the room smell so bad for TneTen she almost gagged. "Who did this? UGH!"

"Ignore him. Looks like this door is special, with a giant shutter with a keyhole… Alright, let's see who had the right key for this door." Sliding some keys from under his Pip-Boy, almost like hiding cards down his sleeves, Naruto looked to see the entrance key he labeled TS, also labeled 'Entrance'. As he slides it in, the door already beeped and turning the key gently easily opened the locks. Lifting the bar, the door opened up for them. "Open sesame."

As they went further in, they were met with what looked like a security checkpoint room. Opening the gate and getting behind the walled area, they noticed a stash of ammunition with an automatic rifle. Seeing this, TenTen ran and grabbed the gun in hand, her eyes looking it over. "Alright… Dang, takes 5.56."

"Still, its ammo is in clips, so it's got the advantage of being ready to fire. Looks old and sat there forever, but as long as nothing rusted out it might work for you at the moment."

Knowing Naruto was right, she took the clips and loaded one in. Making sure there wasn't a bullet ready yet, she took the clip out to eject a bullet and make sure it wasn't ready to fire until she was. Setting the settings on the side, she flipped them and made sure they worked before setting the safety and loading again, slipping the clip back in and the stray bullet in her pistol. "Alright, I have five spare clips and a gun to use. Let's head further in."

It didn't take long to travel the new corridor and suddenly be targeted by a Protectron and a Sentry bot on patrol down here, which both turned on them the moment they came through the door. Getting in front of the group and firing his Gatling Laser, Fawkes roared to action and took the bots down swiftly. Waiting for more, the big guy slowly stepped up and looked around. "Clear."

Weapons at the ready for them all, Naruto led them in again. "Alright… keep your eyes peeled." Thankfully, nothing was down the next room, not until they descended stairs and made it to what looked like a server room or command center, which was filled with two Mister Gutsy model floating bots, and another Sentry bot that started firing on them again.

Taking quick care of them, even with his skin getting slightly burnt from laser fire, Fawkes made them fall over from sustained damage of his Gatling. Keeping the formation up, Naruto searched around to see the terminal at the main desk. "Give me a second, I'm gonna check something. This one's still operational."

Giving it a once over, he made a shocking discovery. "Oh god… Tenpenny… You fucking bastard, I wish I could revive you to tear your ass a new one!" Kicking the desk, he growled in rage.

"What's on there?"

Taking a look herself, TenTen read as Naruto explained. "Tenpenny brought a team down here, supposedly for a weapon… Turns out, the silo outside was an ICBM silo. He was going to nuke a target of his choosing, and it was only thanks to the pre-war era's paranoia of Chinese spies that made their entire system reject USA Coordinates. He tried firing the thing at Megaton, thank the Lord it shut itself down and self-destructed the launch pad, the missile is inert and the silo is inaccessible. He tried firing a fucking nuke at Megaton from here twenty years ago. I want to kill this asshole… Almost feel like ironic justice feral ghouls ate him."

Seeing he was right, the young woman could only wonder what would have happened had she not done what she did. "Would he have tried again?... Burke was going to have someone sabotage the nuke in the town's center but I made that idea a fantasy never coming true. Will Megaton finally know peace from such hatred?"

"Come on… We still need to find out what that Ghoul wanted. He wasn't here for nukes, there's something worth it enough he'd want anyone in his way dead." Naruto shouldered his weapon and was walking with his two partners deeper into the base.

Through a bunking room, they went down to a door that was locked again. It seemed like the lock was able to be melted, but just in case of failure they tried a key. Seemed like one didn't work, but the second did. "Dukov's key. Alright." It was the best choice, as they heard metal shutters clang behind the door. Opening it, the shutters had been lifted. "Well, interesting to see that."

As they went in and opened the next door to the main room, they were suddenly fired upon by three Sentry bots, which prompted Naruto to join Fawkes in rapid-fire, as his modified Laser Rifle spewed beam after beam in rapid succession down and through the very core of one bot, as Fawkes fucked up a second. The third moved into Naruto's view, and just as the rifle stopped firing due to running out of power, the Sentry fell and crackled into blowing up its chest cavity.

With a reload, Naruto flew in and did recon. A minute with Fawkes following had the all-clear. Following them, the brunette with buns saw a severely rotted corpse, still with some meat on it but not as bad smelling like the fresh one upstairs. "Who's this?"

"Number five… Tenpenny came with four people, four keys to get through. This was probably the one I heard died as they left. Dukov tried killing the Ghoul who gave me this job, but they were locked with Ferals who wouldn't hurt normal ghouls anyway so it was fine. Alright… Let's see if this was the door to the treasure."

Trying another key, this one worked the first time and again shutters opened behind what seemed like a normal door. "Dave's key. Interesting." The three stepped over the corpse and walked in to see another door. Unbelievably, it was not even locked. As they went through, Naruto could hardly believe his eyes. "No way… Only the east coast ever got these things, and only in highly militarized districts. This was the treasure?"

Before them in all its glory stood a large suit of Power Armor, it looked like someone was already wearing it to TenTen's eyes as it was standing large and in charge behind a force field. It also looked different to the armors she knew the Brotherhood wore, all except a few parts others wore that looked kind of like the pieces she saw. In fact, the entire chest and shoulder area were what Cross had. "What is this thing? Is someone stuck inside it already?"

"No." Naruto looked it over. "It's a separate model… These things were the next generation of suits. I've never seen one up close, the entire west coast Brotherhood had the armor model but never this exoskeleton model."

Turning, he explained. "The Power Armor you know from the Enclave and Brotherhood so far, it's based on the 'Mechanical limb' design. We have an entire undersuit that fits our limbs to each piece of armor, and as we move the servos and gears within the armor give movement from that. It takes a lot of time to armor up and set the entire system around our bodies, we usually sleep in our armor instead of taking it off too. But this is a different Exoskeleton. It's the 'Pilot' model. These things were so rare that only a few hundred ever saw service outside the military, and only in military towns and cities. Every other suit stayed within military use, including the famous battle for Anchorage where it saw its first-ever deployment. This is a treasure of a piece of armor…"

That was a lot to take in, as Naruto was in full awe over it. Heading to the computer, TenTen tried to see if she could get the thing unlocked. Sadly, it was a terminal with encryption.

Seeing this, Naruto plugged his Pip-Boy in and smirked. "Thank you, Roger Maxson… Military codes still work." As he got it open, the field went down. Getting around it, he saw the thing in pristine condition. "Pilot model T-51b… This thing is the most powerful set of armor we've seen in the wasteland thus far.

That got TenTen wondering. Having seen enough Power Armor, and variants, and mix and match items off some of the Brotherhood members in the CItadel, she wondered what was the strongest model ever built. She asked. "What is the strongest Power Armor ever made in the world? And what type of Exoskeleton?"

Still checking over the armor, Naruto answered as best he could. "Well, if all data we have from the Scribes throughout the history of our order is to be believed, it would be the, mostly experimental, T-60c, only ever made in Pilot model. Considering we still have so many places we haven't checked this far east, it's possible we might find a few. But until then… Fawkes, have a core for me?"

Turning to their large friend, TenTen saw him give a yellow core to the blonde, who slipped it into the armor before the back sprang open. That surprised them both until Naruto climbed in and the back closed around him. Taking the helmet off to show his face, he grinned. "This thing's running smoothly already. I could get used to this."

Fawkes was quite shocked, as now the human before him was at eye level. "You look like a small-headed Meta-Human now. You are a Meta-human, but still. Now you could pass as an armored one of me."

"Let's hope not, don't want to be shot anymore… Alright, we still have one key to try out and search the area. After that, we head east."

With that said, the trio made their way back through the doors before. Naruto made sure to lock the door with the key, however. He didn't want any potential looters now that they cleared the area.

It was not so soon that things turned from shocking to horrifying. They managed to find a couple of storerooms of ammunition and weaponry, mostly the same rifles and a lot more ammo for them, but it was another locked door that was Tenpenny's key that opened up to the most shocking thing the base had.

Throughout the main facility, where they found out had been the main building they couldn't open from the outside before, held a massive supply of large nuclear devices. "Oh god… Tenpenny had got his hands on this key to get to this place. If he had the time, he'd have tried to open this place to destroy everyone on his shit list. Megaton would only be the beginning of his terror."

"Alright, NOW I'm not feeling guilty for Feral ghouls chomping his face. Fuck…" TenTen could stare in horror all day. But they had to worry later. Thankfully, the key did not unlock the outer doors yet, so the trio made their way fully in reverse, locking all doors on their way out, and ran for it.

As they did, TenTen looked at Naruto walking in his very large armor. "If you had to guess, was it worth it going there for a detour?"

"Yeah. For this armor in our hands, and the knowledge of those nukes, we'll be way better off when I give the keys to the Brotherhood and let them know. Once this shitshow is over, we make sure those nukes are as inert as can be, and from this suit, we can potentially make more. It's a big win for the future of the Brotherhood… If we can claim victory against the Enclave before they wipe us out." He smiled, though, as he looked her way. "And I have faith we can. So, let's just focus on our route back."

With that, the woman picked up their pace ahead and took point. "Then off we go!"

XxX Sundown XxX

Naruto was looking at the entrance of what seemed to be a brightly colored mountain of green. "Holy Father… Three Dog wasn't hallucinating it seems. He truly did find trees to the north of the city ruins."

Naruto, with Fawkes, had made their way into the rocky area that was covered in some form of colorless moss or fungus, leaving TenTen outside for a moment to give a bit of an investigation. As they saw the trees, they also saw a man in a weird outfit in front of a make-shift, though very well made, wall and door. Scanning the area, Naruto managed to detect LESS radiation from the area, which was mind-boggling. "Alright then… Fawkes, go grab TenTen. I'll talk to the doorman."

The Meta-Human nodded and went to find their female friend. Walking up, the blonde gave a wave. "Hey, sorry to intrude. Mind a chat?"

"Outsider! You've arrived, just as we hoped."

That was already a red flag. The elder man was almost ecstatic seeing him. "I'd say I'm glad to be here, but how did you guys know we were coming in?"

"We have spotters on the top of the hills, and throughout the grotto. You and your two friends are welcome in Oasis. As long as you cause no ill intent, you are welcome for as long as you need." The elder man was still smiling, which gave Naruto a little bit of worry.

Though he continued talking, obviously wanting to quicken their entry by choice. "When word of your group traveling this way came to our ears, He had asked us to bring you straight to him."

"'He'? What, your leader doesn't have a name that should be public?"

"Oh, I do apologize. Our living Idol, Harold, wishes to see you in person." Realizing there were little in the way of introductions, the old man corrected. "You may call me Tree Father Birch, I am the caregiver to my flock here, the leader of this group called the Treeminders."

Hearing his companions come behind him, the whiskered warrior gave the short of it. "The place seems to be radiation lite, which is surprising. So we're safe here, for the time being, Tree Father Birch here, of a group called the Treeminders, has invited us in because their 'Idol' named Harold wants to see us. They saw our approach and thought to bring us in as guests."

"Then, that's a good thing right? THey've not taken your weapons, and they seem to be civil at least." TenTen saw the guard watching them intently, which confused her a tad.

"Yeah, and we'll head in and figure out what they want to talk about. After that, we'll figure out what to do next." Turning back to the Tree Father, he explained. "We need a night or two of rest, if we need any supplies we'll trade for them. That's of course separate than whatever is going on with your Idol."

"Splendid, that would be quite alright on our end. Please, come inside. I will see you to the Pavillion." opening the door, he led the trio into the settlement Oasis.

Coming in, the surprising green form outside was overwhelmingly abundant inside the gate. "Alright, I am officially now in the camp of 'Project China is real' thanks to this…"

As they came to the grand, yet natural-looking, center of the large grotto, they were being slowly surrounded by even more of the group. "This is normal human behavior?"

To answer their Meta-Human friend, both humans shook their heads. As the Tree Father had their group around them, he spoke to them. "It is an honor to have Outsiders within our walls, it is usually forbidden for any to be accepted within the gate. We've only ever traded outside the grotto before to a select few who came along. This is a gift amongst gifts, for all you see is of His doing. Every tree, every lush green blade of grass, all came from his seed. You asked for his name, but I appreciate it if you would give it the reverence He deserves by not speaking it so casually."

"I have my own God, but I will respect your choice in who you worship." Naruto looked around them. "Seems you've only weapons around here, no other such technology, no artificial lights… Treeminders, huh? Guess you give and take of the land as naturally as possible."

"Our God is a living and breathing entity, a tree that lives, that speaks, that guides us and gives his bounty to us so that we may prosper as nature intended before the bombs fell." Birch was surely preaching now, as everyone around was in prayer positions. "We would nurture his gifts, and if it were not for others who would exploit such gifts, we'd be less protective of it. He needs to be protected by the greed of man, or their wrath and pride. We will serve His majesty and all the good it brings."

"Alright, not creepy at all… Now I'm getting a weird feeling." TenTen turned to her blonde friend and saw him shrug her way as a way of saying he did too.

Walking up to them, he gave a genuine smile. "Which brings us to why you are here… he wishes to speak to you all, to exchange words and judgments. As long as you are in his good graces, you do not need to worry about anything else. His will be done."

Being the one who was the most curious, the brunette woman had to ask. "Then why aren't we meeting him right now? Wouldn't he want to see us immediately?"

Nodding, Birch answered her with the reason immediately. "He would, but none may see him until they have been purified of anything that may harm him. For that, you must drink the Sap that is of the basin here, it will purify your body and mind. It will not harm you in the slightest, even your Mutant friend. It is a quick precaution. Just drink, and you will meet with him shortly."

Choosing to use his sensors, the soldier took a quick look to check the contents of this sap, which he nodded to TenTen to give a try. As she did, he found it was quite harmless. It was full of vitamins and minerals that were good for healthy growth, and also that it had an agent in it that caused drowsiness. It would likely put them to sleep. As he and Fawkes also drank, TenTen groaned a little as her vision started to blur.

Strangely enough, she felt light on her feet, as he body almost seemed to float from the weightlessness she felt. To her mind, things were rather blindingly bright. The Treeminders started chanting.

Naruto and Fawkes were mostly unaffected, in fact, Fawkes just stood there not feeling a thing. Naruto did feel a hit of drowsiness though. All whilst Birch spoke up. "We will now recite the ceremonial chant. Let your bodies feel the light of his gift, and be purified of all wickedness." To say the multi-part and multi-speaker rant from them all was a little pushing it, the blonde did notice TenTen wobble just a tad through the thing until she looked almost about to have her knees give way.

The chant over, the elder man looked to her and was still smiling brightly. "You will be put into a light sleep, as the purification finishes. When you awake, you will be before His Majesty."

That was it, TenTen fainted on the spot, which had Fawkes catch her. Naruto sighed a little and looked to the elder. "Alright, that was something else. We're not going to sleep like her, so just take us in the door. We'll get her up and talking before we speak to your god."

"Why haven't either of you gone to sleep? It makes all newcomers sleep." It was confusing to be sure, though not exactly undesirable. "This has been a strange day."

"A strange week for us. The Sap contained several natural agents that are heavy on sleep-inducing properties, but because me and Fawkes here are FEV related individuals, those agents are considered a type of poison. Not lethal, mind you, but still not a desirable trait on our bodies. We are highly resistant to such things. TenTen's mostly human, she's passed out as expected. Just send us in, we'll wake her up and talk to this God Tree of yours."

It was still surprising to all around, but it was at least a good thing they would not have to carry the heavier two. "Then come this way. He will be delighted to finally speak with you all." Leading the way, Fawkes carried their female companion as they were led to the deepest part of the grotto, the heart of the entire area.