A/N: ALRIGHT! This fic is now in THIRD PLACE for the most reviewed Overlord fic on this site! Let's get it up to number one, guys! We can do it!

HELLO CHAPS~! Miss me? VIVA LA REQUEST YEARS! Well, I've been gone awhile, but I'm back. Lets just say there were...issues with my health and such. But those are behind me! I fear not the flamers nor the flames that they bring, for I am back and I am here to STAY!

Sooooo, time to answer your questions!

Q: ESDEATH?! You brought in Esdeath?! I love it! Who else is here that we don't know about?!

A: People.

Q: Does Naruto have access to his chakra?

A: In a sense, he does. His abilities are still there, but he needs to figure out how to use them again when most of his energy-consuming skills are slaved to his Mana Points, which he doesn't have all that much of. By comparison, Ains has a least DOUBLE the mana he does.

Q: Just how strong is Naruto compared to Ains?

A: Remember, these guys are both Level 100 with god-tier items and equipment. They're capable of using cash items, advanced strategy, and a plethora of skills we haven't even seen yet. Its not a matter of stats. For example, Naruto can best Ains in a contest of raw strength. Ains kicks his ass in terms of sheer mana and spellpower/spell defense. If they clash, it would be a long, protracted battle.

Q: So can we assume Naruto's going to have a wee bit of battle lust in the future?

A: His chosen class is a warrior mage hybrid, ergo, a sage. But in a sense, he's forgotten how to enjoy himself in a fight. Esdeath "flipped" that switch in him during their spar, if you will. Its more than a matter of just turning it off again, as his very character in the game was meant to be aggressive.

Q: Why did Naruto balk when everyone bowed to him? As Hokage, didn't he deal with that? How old is he?

A: Naruto balked at being referred to as a supreme one, something no one ever called him. Everyone's formality caught him off guard, but its something he'll get used to. In terms of appearance his avatar looks a bit younger than his hokage self. Not a teen by any means, but a young adult, I suppose you could say.

Q: How are the force in Nazerick going to react to this?

A: You're about to find out.

NOW THEN!

LET THE CRAZY TRIP CONTINUE!

I'm so proud of Naruto and co. in this chapter. It figures they'd do something like this when innocents are threatened, no?

A long forgotten character gets to shine in this chapter!

Do try to keep up, my beloved fans =D

AND BOY DOES IT GET BLOODY!

"I AM AINS OOAL GOWN!"

"I AM UZUMAKI NARUTO!"

...STOP COPYING ME!"

"HA?! YOU FIRST!"

~Naruto and Ains!~

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Neji detected the soldiers long before they were aware of his presence.

Having been assigned to observe Carne village by his lord and master, he had taken to his task with a singular determination that only a ninja could possess. Instead of resolving himself to merely observe the village, to watch from a distance as Naruto had commanded, he'd chosen to exceed those orders. Go above and beyond. Thus, in lieu of simple surveillance, he elected to approach his targets directly. What seemed like a daunting task soon proved itself anything but, for the villagers did not see him as a threat. Even with his pale eyes and astoundingly long hair he was still human and thus, they did not deem him a threat.

It was a resounding success.

The people of Carne welcomed him with open arms and glad hearts, wholly without reservation.

...though his long hair earned him the envy of some women, inexplicably.

And so the Chief Scout dutifully spent three days among and them, doing his best to make himself useful, all the while quietly reporting back to his master, carefully deflecting any inquiries pertaining to his identity. If the villagers were at all aware of his duplicity they didn't seem to mind. One might have thought that strange but Neji knew better; these folk were honest and hardworking, utterly incapable of duplicity. A good sort to be sure. The village itself was a good place, he decided. This humble series of shacks and those who dwelt within worthy of protection.

One about to be ruined by these rampaging buffoons riding in on their steeds.

Of course, said buffoons had never anticipated a shinobi.

Said shinobi immediately sent a Message to Konoha.

"Naruto-sama?"

The reply was immediate.

'Oh, Neji!' the distant crackle answered almost immediately. 'Was wondering when I'd hear from you. So? What's up?'

"I could ask you the same thing, sire." Neji restrained a grimace. "Are those...explosions?"

'That'd be Yui. I promised I'd play with her today, so...

"I see. You're not in Konoha, then."

'No, I'm somewhere north. Why?'

Neji relayed the information.

'Alright. Withdraw for now. I'll be there in half an hour. If they're going to attack like you think, we'll crush 'em.'

...I cannot agree to that."

'What? Don't be reckless. You're not built for front line fighting. Just be patient and I'll-

"I intend to protect them. Even at the cost of my life. I will utilize my trump card if I must."

'DON'T YOU DARE-

"Well, then." Straightening from his place at the well, the last Hyuuga cut off the message, flicked a few beads of sweat from his brow, and stood. "I suppose I should change."

Heedless of the startled squeak beside him, the man took hold of his roughspun tunic and gave it a harsh yank, shedding it and the rest of his humble clothing in favor of his high-tier equipment. A proud Leaf headband materialized on his forehead, taking the place of the plain-looking bandanna he'd been wearing mere moments before. Then the rest came rushing back at once, culminating in the end of Neji's humble-yet-nevertheless-faux existence as a traveling bard, and returning him to the somber, cherished role of a ninja once more.

He was almost sad to leave this role behind.

Still, needs must...

To the eyes of anyone from Konoha he supposed he now resembled a upper-rank Jounin, the sole exception being a weighty ebony gauntlet on his right arm. The apparatus sheathed the entire limb to the shoulder in sleek black metal, the joints flexing and stiffening as he made a fist with it. Rather ironic, given the gauntlet's name. God's Fist. Truly a masterwork. That he was able to equip the weapon so at a moment's notice was due in no small part to the fact that he'd been wearing them all along, simply disguising the superior equipment beneath layers of thick clothing and cloaking magic.

Then he turned his head to gaze upon the one who'd witnessed his change.

"Enri."

"H-Hai!" she stiffened beneath his cold stare, brown orbs wide.

Neji thought she would've made a fine student in the ninja arts, if a tad shy and gentle.

Now was not the time for either.

"Fetch your family and run to the forest. Tell everyone you meet to stay inside their homes." the once-distant clatter of hoofbeats was rising steadily now and he realized his warning might not make it in time for some of the villagers, but better late than never. "What are you waiting for?!" he admonished when she initially hesitated. "Go!" his voice hardened, assuming an air of command. "RUN!"

"Okay!"

Eyes glimmering, pony-tailed girl turned to scamper away and Neji forcibly willed himself not to hasten after her. No, he reminded himself, a thorn of duty pricking him and holding him back. His place-his duty-lay on a different path. The Emmot family had been kind to him, taking him in without a word of complaint during his time here. He had broke bread with them, shared stories with their children. He was...rather fond of them, actually. They reminded him of happier times. Of foggy memories.

Her family would be safe there.

Hopefully.

By now he didn't need his All-Seeing Eyes to notice the cloud of dust at the rider's backs, the arrogant way in which they held themselves. He bristled despite himself. A lesser man-one not experienced in the ways of war-else might've thought these knights had come to protect the village from monsters or, barring that, simply collect taxes. This was not the case. He could read the subtle lines of those bodies, recognize the manner in which they held themselves, see their drawn swords. The tiniest fault was laid bare before his vision.

Once again, Neji knew better than most.

These men had come to kill.

Naruto-sama's orders had been crystal clear on this matter. He was to observe. Nothing more. His life was of the utmost importance. Retreat if he met resistance. Even infiltrating the village was pushing the envelope to the point of blatant disrespect, but this...? Doubtlessly his liege would do something now that he'd been informed. Whether that action resulted in the village's salvation or its destruction remained to be seen.

However...!

...orders or not, he just couldn't stand aside and let this village be slaughtered.

As such, the disguised knights of the Slane Theocracy were rather baffled when they found the village deserted but for one man. Said man waited patiently as they dismounted, his keen eyes taking each of them in with quiet surety. Only the staunchest resolve prevented their leader from simply leaping at him. Or perhaps it was dread? The way he looked at them...as if they were meat. Cattle, to be drawn and quartered and devoured, nothing more than wheat to the chaff. That was impossible of course. A mighty warrior he may well be, but he was but one. They were many.

What could he possibly do?

What indeed.

"Who the hell are you?" One of then, distinguishable from his faceless brethren only by the air of command in his voice, stepped forward to meet him.

Neji offered a grim smile.

"I am no one."

The scout straightened beneath their discerning gaze, pale eyes narrowing to calm lavender slits. His armored arm rose ponderously, its open palm placing itself between them and the village. Like a firm and immutable pillar he held this stance even as the leader approached. Unblinking. Unflinching.

"I'll say this once." he declared, raising his voice. "You won't lay a hand on the villagers."

...shit." one whispered. "How did he know?"

"I didn't until now."

"Damnit!"

"Though I am but a humble scout and pawn of my master, I do not possess superior combat strength," he began softly. "Nor do I boast exceptional endurance. Yet I can declare with utmost certainty that I am stronger than each and every one of you here. If you attack me one by one as you are now...

His hand curled into a claw.

...you will die."

"Why you arrogant little-

CRUNCH.

He got no further than that as Neji stepped forward and struck, driving two fingers into then through his unprotected larynx. A spurt of blood heralded the man's end and scowling. Choking, gurgling on his own blood, he clutched at his neck in a vain attempt to stave off the his end. To no avail. A flourish of the ninja's hand declared the knight's end, ripping the taut digits free and leaving him to topple backwards, tumbling to the ground like a felled tree all the while pawing at the a coin-sized hole in his neck. His companions turned disbelieving

"H-How?!"

Neji exhaled calmly, uncaring of the blood dripping from his hand.

"I do not remember dying," he declared, raising that very hand towards the heavens, "Yet, Naruto-sama emphatically states that I have already perished once before in this meager existence of mine. Therefore," White flames licked at the edges of his shoulders, gradually stemming across his body, "In order to ensure that I never fall again," the gauntlet on his arm seemed to writhe before their very eyes, clamoring across his collarbone, no, now his shoulders, consuming his chest and neck in the strange, reflective metal. "To make certain that I should never cause his heart to wrench with sorrow, I will eliminate each of you with extreme prejudice...!

"W-W-What the hell is this?!"

"None of your concern." the pale-eyed ninja replied, bathed in pale white relief. "Come at me prepared to die!"

Remarkably, they did.

Neji calmly batted the first weapon aside as though it were no more than a harmless stick, leaving its owner helpless to the followup strike that smote him through the helmet and between the eyes. He caught the next, and subsequently drove that very same blade through the nearest knight's armored torso. By then the others were well and truly upon him and the Chief Scout found he had no ore time for thought. Only action. A mad dance followed, his arms a constant blur of motion as he struck caught, riposted and viciously carved the fear of god into their very souls.

"Eight Trigrams Air Palm."

A wave of focused pressure shot forth from his palm, battering knights and horses aside, tossing them into the air with ease.

Still they came.

"Rotation."

Those nearest to him soon learned the folly of close combat, the high-powered spin grinding them to raw chunks of meat in spite of their armor.

Still they came.

Still Neji fought.

Even then, it came as something of a surprise when he realized there were more than he'd initially surmised. Far more. Their numbers came at him relentlessly, knights willingly throwing themselves to their deaths for reasons he didn't understand. Some were even able to injure him, throwing their lives away, relying on sheer numbers to land blows that ordinarily would have been otherwise deflected. Something was wrong. He was certain he'd landed fatal blows, yet like puppets severed from their strings, still they came. To his great shame he proved unable to stop them all; some escaped him and ran to the forest, no doubt determined to hunt down the villagers. He barred as many as he could, but even then his mind raced; frantically using his skills, trying to push past them, yet finding them more and more determined.

Enri!

She had to be safe, she just had to be-

A distant shriek took that hope and shattered it on a stone wall of dread.

White eyes widened.

'Forgive me, Naruto-sama. I failed-

"WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FAILING?!"

In a roar of ice and fire, they came.

The air split and rippled behind him as the Gate formed, a portal of writhing flame and shadow connecting this reality to another. And out of its depths stepped two figures. He recognized the slim form of Esdeath nearly at once, with her stark blue hair, as he did the two trembling figures locked tight in her arms. Wide-eyed and a touch pale, but alive. Enri! Nemu! Relief flooded him all at once and his legs went weak. But that weakness evaporated when he beheld the second figure stepping out of the writhing maelstrom of magic.

Yes, because there, beside her...!

Neji went rigid, and would've dropped to his knees had his injuries permitted it. Ice blue eyes flicked toward him and he immediately felt a cool wave of healing mana settle over him with gentle certainty. His wounds mended as he lay there, gasping softly, exhaustion little more than a painful recollection. Even then he daren't move. The sheer aura of hate emanating from his liege prevented him doing so, despite the fact that the menacing miasma wasn't directed at him. No, that loathing was reserved for a very specific set of individuals. Eyes the color of blood and blue skies swept past him, falling upon the knights.

"So."

Funny how one word can render you speechless.

A single syllable carved through the silence that followed, all the remaining soldiers focusing on the one who had spoken. When that lone individual raised a hand it was not to strike, or even to offer a hand in mercy. He merely flexed his fingers, eliciting a harsh pop as knuckles cracked. That lone gesture conveyed more than words ever could.

"I hear you like cutting little girls."

Naruto Uzumaki, and Sage of the Forest, swept one hand through the air, casually tapping his staff against the ground.

"I take exception to that."


(...Meanwhile, Within the Great Tomb of Nazarick...)


Momonga was not pleased.

No, no, no, not at all!

T'was troublesome enough that he couldn't figure out how to work this Mirror of Remote Viewing, but the events of the last three days were still nagging at him. Like a stubborn series of thorns that seemed to prick and hold him back, so too did the niggling doubts. The idea of other players being trapped in this world should have been a pleasant one. It would mean he wasn't alone in this world. Ordinarily, he would have preferred it to be someone from Ains Ooal Gown, but he wouldn't be opposed to meeting someone from one of the more insular guilds as well.

He too was aware of the matter of the Great Forest.

There had even been two conflicts there already.

The first when an intruder neared the tomb, before Sebas subsequently drove him off. A scout.

Then a second incursion, far more forceful than the last.

Another act perpetrated by a lone individual.

If he recalled correctly, that territory had once belonged to a certain man. Someone who'd been with the game since the beginning. A man who, knowingly or not, had helped to cement his desire to stay in this world. A man he both respected and on some level, disliked. It was almost ironic, really. If that individual had indeed found himself transported to this new world, then he supposed he should address him by his proper title.

The Sage of the Great Forest.

Even in the early days of YGGDRASIL word spread quickly through the grapevine. Just about everyone knew of the Sage who'd single-handedly confronted and taken down a World Boss. By. Himself. A man of singular charm and great charisma, capable of making even the most hardened enemy an ally. A man who used his fame and riches to bring a massive following to his side, using them to annihilate one of the stronger dungeons and then carved out a great swath of the forest for himself afterward. A man fixated on all things ninja, who gave every spare hour to the game.

That scout had been designed as befitting his style.

Did that indicate the presence of a player?

Perhaps it mere happenstance?

It certainly begged the question.

As did yesterdays incident...


(...Commence Flashback no Jutsu...!)


THOOM!

A deafening crash shook the Great Tomb of Nazarck to its very bones. Every level trembled as one, then once again as two figures collided anew. None dared to investigate the source of the noise if only for the furious roars emanating from within. Deep, primal sounds, the snarls of two beasts locked in deathly combat. Two ancient beings older than time itself, each determined to slay one another to the very best of their ability. To cut, ream, maim! Butcher, dismember, devour! No measure of mercy was given, no quarter requested nor given.

Another crash heralded the destruction of a wall, hurling a red blur through it.

Chasing after the falling figure, a pure white blur struck!

"Purifying Lance!"

"Oomph!"

The twisted sound of warped metal rose over a grunt of pain as the heavenly projectile slammed into the intruder's chest, causing it to cave. And then, inexplicably, the rust-red armor reformed. Metal defied physics and gravity alike, snapping back into his proper shape with a harsh crunch. As his attacker looked on, the intruder picked themselves up off the floor, clucking softly in amusement.

"Wow." the armored figure laughed, shaking his dented helm from side to side. "I didn't expect to encounter resistance already. You're crazy strong, you know that?!"

Shaltear Bloodfallen grimaced, her mouth forming a thin line of annoyance.

"I could say the same for your defense."

Raising their gaze, they found themselves face to face with a vampire of short stature, possessing the appearance of a buxom fourteen year old girl. She was a true beauty, with pale shiny skin, clad in a gorgeous dress, those burning, seductive red eyes seemed to tempt you to your very soul, and fine facial features. Her silver hair lay tied in a ponytail, allowing others full view of her face. And what a fine face it was-

The blond blinked, realizing the egress of his thoughts.

'Ah, I see. Charm.'

"You can stop staring now." she goaded. "Come, remove your helm. You are a Supreme Being, are you not? No one else could have survive such an attack."

"I see. So I've been found out already? No point in wearing this, then."

Flung aside, the dented piece of metal clattered to the ground harshly, skittering out of sight in the darkness of the tomb and the vampiress found herself staring down a dark elf with mismatching blue red eyes. For a fleeting instant she thought she was staring at an older version of Aura or Mare, but for the eyes, whiskers and wild hair. Then she recognized him, and the weapon he carried; that eerie staff in his hand, its signature helix-like shape slotting into place deep within her oldest memories.

Shaltear lifted her dress in a demure curtsy, bowing politely.

"Pleased to finally meet you, Lord Rikudo-sama."

Naruto blinked.

Tilted his head.

"Lord? I mean, wait a second! You know who I am?"

"Of course." the vampiress replied, preening at the inquiry. "How could I not? Your guild was our enemy and my...victims described you at great length to me. Any enemy worthy of Ains-sama's respect deserves to be addressed as such." Red eyes regarded him intently, burning like twin coals in the darkness of the night. "Truly, it was fortunate of me to encounter you here. Now I do not have to ask Ains-sama for his permission to seek you out and kill you. Even if you are a Supreme Being."

The Leader of Konoha sighed.

"Kill me? Seriously? What for? Because I poked my head-

CLANG!

His arm snapped up catching the lance at the last instant.

To his surprise this one was very solid, a creation forged from the darkest of metals. It seemed to sap his strength the longer he held it, the steady drain clashing violently with his Passive Regeneration. Still, he daren't let go of the weapon for fear of her firing another one of her Purifying Lances at him again. That damn skill really hurt! A few more of those would place his hit points dangerously into the orange, something he didn't want to risk with what little he knew of this madwoman.

"So?" Stalling, he forced a grin. "Are you going to answer me or not?"

"You are a threat to Ain's-sama's ambition." came Shaltear's chipper reply, her petite mouth splitting in a wide grin as she struggled against him. "Even if he does not yet realize it, I cannot allow that to pass."

Blue eyes burned gold.

...well, that's fucking adorable."

Shaltear blushed, and subsequently grimaced. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to trample you now. For his sake, of course."

Naruto beamed.

"I invite you to try."

"Oho? And what can-

"Rasengan."

Shaltear never saw his free hand snap forward, but she most certainly felt it as the spiraling sphere slammed into her stomach. Almost immediately it tore through her dress and into the flesh of her stomach. Shredding her impressive defenses as though they were made of paper, the sphere ripped the proud vampiress from her feet and hurled her through a wall. Even then it took nearly all the strength her current form possessed just to extricate herself from the snarling pressure against her stomach and negate it with a burst of-

"Magic Destruction!"

"Got you."

The blond was there even as she swung her lance to cancel the spell, taking advantage of her brief immobility. His fist filled her vision with terrifying speed, armored knuckles swooping down on her startled visage in a single blink.

CRUNCH.

Shaltear found herself uttering a very unladylike shriek when those knuckles barreled into her face and launched her into the ceiling. A cloud of dust answered, the thick stone cracking before her passage. Trapping her. Wedging her very form against the mortar. Seething, she cast a smoldering glare down at the blond.

"How dare you make me utter such an ungraceful sound!"

"Aw, did I hurt the widdle vampire's feelings?"

A silence passed between them.

"Shaltear-chan, was it?" Naruto's voice catcalled after her as she struggled to extricate herself from this unexpected bind. "Why don't you try fighting me seriously? You're going to get hurt at this rate!"

Red eyes burned in the haze.

"YOU!"

When the dust cleared, she straightened, ready for battle.

Shaltear stood tall and proud, clad in full body armor dyed in blood-like crimson color. Only the face had an excess, revealing a large hole in the helmet which was shaped like the head of a swan, with bird-like feathers protruding from either side. Wing-designed decorations hung from the chest and shoulders, and the lower half of the body was a vermillion dress. She took great pride in the way those mismatching eyes narrowed, thin slits regarding her intently as she swept her lanced through the haze of dust.

"As expected of a raid boss!

Shaltear's only response was an incoherent snarl.

Two hands snapped up in the same instant.

"Maximize Magic: Blazing Fire Destruction!"

"Maximize Magic: Great Breakthrough!"

They both realized the others mistake too late.

Fire and wind don't mix well.

Not.

One.

Bit.

Magic and chakra collided in a writhing maelstrom of heat and wind, momentarily blinding the true vampiress. No, no, no! If I destroy this level I'll be scolded for sure! Enraged by the blond's perceived duplicity, she fired another fire spell against the wind, casting the blazing vortex out of the tomb itself before it could detonate and destroy the first level. The burning storm howled upward into the night sky, momentarily creating a second son before vanishing wildly over the horizon and streaking out of sight.

When Shaltear turned her gaze to where she thought here opponent would be, all she saw was a scorched circle.

"Che! He got away...


(...End Flashback no Jutsu...!)


Beyond that, nothing.

That someone was capable of fitting on equal grounds with Shaltear was a troubling notion indeed...

If it was indeed a player, perhaps they were simply investigating this new world as he was? And yet they were near Nazarick. Dangerously so. If one were to exit the great tomb and focus, you could see the titular ninja-held forest on the horizon. Would there be a fight over territory? Raids? As a precaution, he'd raised the security level for the last three days, but no attacks had come. Beyond that initial sighting and the brief encounter with Shaltear, there were no signs of enemy movement to be seen. Might it be a feint of some sort?

"Am I giving this too much thought...?" he wondered aloud.

"Is something wrong, Momonga-sama?"

The player sighed, turning his head.

Ah, Sebas.

"No, its nothing." he reassured the ever-vigilant butter. "Just lost in thought."

"As you say."

The elder lich scoffed and shifted behind the ebony desk, idly resting a hand against the skin of his forehead-nope, just bone. Another not-so-subtle reminder of his new existence as an undead. Oddly enough that didn't bother him as uch as he once had. In fact he felt quite at ease these days in regards to his new appearance. But where Nazarick's securty were concerned, his paranoia knew no bounds. Che! So stressful! This was not a manner befitting a ruler!

This wasn't right at all!

He was the last of Ains Ooal Gown!

Guildmaster, Overlord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and the creator of Pandora's Actor. Regarded as the highest of the Almighty Forty-One Supreme Beings by the NPCs of Nazarick. All these titles and the powers that came with them were at his disposal, and yet, despite this, despite the strange calm that seemed to envelop him whenever he grew anxious.

'So why am i so uneasy now, oi?'

Fumbling with the mirror, he finally found something.

Or rather, someone.

Several someones.

What he saw caused him to blink.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

"What on earth...?"

"Sebas," he intoned deeply, capturing the man's attention. "The man you described, is that him?"

A bony finger indicated a prone figure in the reflective surface.

"Hmm?" the butler leaned forward, inspecting the mirror. "Yes, that would be him. The one with the long hair. The other two I do not recognize."

But Momonga did.

He knew one of them all too well.

Rising sharply, the Overlord summoned his staff.

"Tell Albedo to make preparations and accompany me at once."


(...Meanwhile on the Outskirts of Carne Village...)


"ORAH!"

Naruto's arm shot out in an vicious display of impeccable power and precision, hardened knuckles thundering home into the knight's helmet. Sundered by the blow, the metal yielded to his fist with a dull crunch, a spurt of blood signalling the end of the head trapped within the crumpled iron. The body tottered drunkenly on its feet for all of three seconds before a pillar of ice cannoned into it from behind, launching the headless cadaver into his fellows and sending them sprawling. Scarce had they fallen than a rain of icicles pounced on them, skewering the helpless invaders everywhere but their vitals.

Almost as if someone were deliberately taking great pangs to keep them alive and in torment.

Given his companion's preference for the later, it wasn't that difficult to suss her out.

"Esdeath, was that really necessary?"

The ice-wielder flashed him a dainty smile entirely at odds with her bloodstained visage as she idly skewered another knight.

"Of course," she hummed. "I'm merely savoring the fruit of their despair."

Naruto sighed.

This one!

She!

Was!

Sadism!

Sadism incarnate!

This woman delighted in tormenting others on a mental and psychological level. Her logic? The strong survive and the weak die. If you don't like what I'm doing, make me stop. Of course, no one present could make her cease, save Naruto himself. Given the circumstances, he wasn't inclined to do so. No, wait, that was a lie. He wanted her to take it a step further, to inflict the same terror upon these halfwits that they'd so cruelly sown back in the village. Yes, let her be a terror. Let her be death incarnate.

The enemy soldiers certainly thought so!

In this state she looked like something like a bloody angel, and the laughter didn't help any.

"Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL!" her cries rose to a feverish pitch around him. "This is truly a wonderful day to be alive!"

In a sense he was almost glad to have her by his side; especially when the alternative was to leave her to her own devices back in Konoha. Here he could keep an eye on her. Here, he could prevent her from going on a rampage as she'd nearly done during their duel. Here he could get a better feel for her personality outside of a structured environment. And what he saw worried him. This woman...she was insane. If he didn't have her absolute loyalty and undying he might've deemed her a threat to be dealt with.

Honestly, he almost felt bad for her victims.

Almost.

He'd make an exception just this once.

These fuckers had tried to kill kids.

That was something he loathed.

Judging that their terror had reached its peak, he clapped his hands.

Pearly white teeth flashed in the sunlight.

"Gentlemen!" His voice rose, veritably throbbing with persuasion and pitched to carry over the battlefield, causing Esdeath to pause. "Lend me your ears for a bit, will ya? I may be new to this world, but I'm fairly certain cutting down civilians in cold blood isn't something good guys do. So, in lieu of an exasperating conversation, please...

Mismatching eyes gleamed with fresh menace.

"Tell me why I should spare you."

Several shrank back.

Naruto smiled.

It was not a pleasant thing, that smile.

"So." the word was a hiss. "No answer?" he started forward, hefting his staff. "You think you can impudently attack little girls but you cringe when you face someone capable. And you have no excuse. Is that it?" A part of him was almost relieved to feel horrified anger; it meant that, at his core, he was still himself. It also fanned the flames of his wrath to a scorching fury. "Then I suppose I can sic Esdeath on you without reservation."

"Y-You wouldn't dare!" one squeaked.

Naruto tilted his head.

"Can't I?"

Red and blue eyes gleamed brightly.

"I needn't feel guilty about this, do I? Esdeath!"

"Not at all!"

"Then this is an absolute order." Naruto began slowly, raising a hand, "Leave one to report our doings here today." he lazily indicated a random knight amonst the rest, a slow smile spreading across his whiskered face as his prey stiffened in fear. "Make the rest suffer. Cut their limbs off! Leave them with open wounds! Eviscerate them! Emasculate them! Make them regret their foolishness to the last of their days!"

A euphoric expression dawned on her pale visage, sheer rapture carving itself into every feature.

Before the slaughter could begin, however, the air chose that moment to ripple and part behind them.

Whatever relief the knights might have experienced withered away when the saw what emerged from within.

"Oh, dear." a voice like twin boulders grating together seemed to split the very air itself. "It seems we're a bit late."

Naruto blinked.

Really, that was all he could think to do.

This undead, for the humanoid figure clearly wasn't human, bore the appearance of an Overlord, that is, an undead skeleton creature devoid of skin and flesh. It-he?-wore an elaborate, jet-black academic gown adorned with gold and violet edges. Ad ark red glow issued forth from empty eye sockets, and a dark halo-like object glimmered behind its head, seeming to shimmer when one looked directly at them. He had worked long and hard to eradicate his fear of ghosts and the like, but looking at this creature, he felt himself stiffen.

He was looking at death incarnate.

And his mouth betrayed him.

"Holy crap a skeleton?!"

Had Ainz Ooal Gown possessed eyelids, he would have blinked.

...what?"

Esdeath wasn't so hesitant.

"Another enemy!"

Naruto stiffened.

"Now wait a sec-

She never made it.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

A woman in dark armor leapred out of the Gate and intercepted her , wielding a towering bardiche as though it weighed no more than a feather. A single parry drew the bluenette's blade aside and then the ax's jarring riposte came crashing down, shattering her defenses and leaving her wide open for the strike to follow. Blood spurted across her vision, punctuated by a blinding red haze in her shoulder. Naruto snapped forward in the next instant, only to find his staff parried by the strange lich, his blow restrained with great effort.

"Tell your pawn to back off!"

"You first!" the skeleton replied, then seemed to reconsider. "Albedo! That's enough!"

Esdeath hitched a breath and staggered back, clutching at her injured limb.

"Just who are you?!"

The skeleton honestly seemed to consider that for a moment. In a flourish, he spun away from Naruto, soulless eyes gleaming.

"You may call me Mom-no!" his sudden declaration startled them, "You would do well to remember my name! I am...!"

"I AM AINS OOAL GOWN!"

"I AM UZUMAKI NARUTO!"

An awkward silence pervaded the clearing.

...STOP COPYING ME!" Ains snarled.

"HA?! YOU FIRST!"

"YOU!"

"Fine! Me first!" Naruto snarled. "Name's Naruto. Sage of the Great Forest." Grinning, he snapped off a salute. "Nice ta meetcha. Now, I'm in the middle of something, so would kindly fuck off?"

"Oh?" The elder lich regarded him impassively, red eyes gleaming in the waning light. "That's an impressive title, I take it. Won't you retreat? I have no desire to fight you." Truly he didn't. Inwardly however Momonga's mind was racing. His suspicion of other players being trapped in this new world had just been confirmed. The Sage of the Great Forest. He Who Walks the Six Paths. Shadow of Fire. An endless list of titles that stretched on. He knew that name, but little of the one behind it or the power he commanded beyond rumors.

This...boded poorly.

Leader to one of the foremost guilds in YGGDRASIL. An eternal recluse. Someone who never ventured out to the front-lines. Rumored to be in the upper eighties at the very least, possibly one hundred. His build seemed that of a warrior, but the staff in his hand suggested otherwise. Then there was the matter of the woman beside him. She reeked of bloodlust and killing intent, leashed only by the blond's presence. He'd seen how she'd tried to attack just now before Albedo wounded her. A protracted battle here would destroy everything, village included. Still, perhaps there was some hope that they could avoid conflict...

The sage's next sentence took that hope and dashed it against the rocks.

"I'll have you pay for what your woman did to my subordinate."

"Maybe, but there are certain things I need to protect."

He gave his staff a spin.

"And my pride is one of them."

Ains sighed, shoulders stooping.

"I see. I apologize, then."

For the first time since their meeting, Naruto's face went blank.

Ains bowed deeply.

"I offer you my sincerest apologies on behalf of my subordinate."

"Ha?"

Naruto felt his jaw hang open in disbelief.

"J-Just like that?"

"As I said, I have no desire to fight you." the lich replied. "In fact, I came here because you made me curious. Would you be opposed to joining forces for the time being until this situation is resolved?"

...is there a particular reason why? No...wait a minute...

Naruto blinked, realizing what the lich intended.

"Oh, hell yes."

A/N: NIGUN OF THE SLANE THEOCRACY SHALL KNOW TERROR NEXT CHAPTER! Aaaaaaaaaand there we go! An ageless, immortal, or at the very least, ridiculously hard to kill, Uzumaki Naruto, in the Overlord Universe. Expect all sorts of hell to break loose in the most silly and inane of ways! I eagerly await your reviews and responses to both that fic, and this! Don't worry, some scenarios may prove quite different from the one in the show, but I want to dedicate a full chapter to each at the least, not to mention the INSANITY that will come about when Naruto inevitably encounters Ains himself. Look forward to it, ya know!

So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! Hope it makes you smile. And Review! Or face the wrath of AINS! BAHAHAHA! I'm also switching things up here! Tis a mere two, but it sets things up with a BANG! AND I HOPE IT MAKES YA'LL GRIN!

(Preview)

Anko grinned.

A hand rose, absently splaying across his chest. Naruto stiffened.

"Oi, oi, oi! What's with that look!"

The silence proved telling.

"NO JUMPING MY BONES!"


The child blinked.

So did Naruto.

An ethereal beauty in every sense of the word, she seemed almost perfect. Truly a superior creature, framed in battered-looking rags that seemed entirely too large for her petite frame. Hair the color of the palest snow framed a cherubic face from which wide eyes stained a strange red-blue-but-not-quite-violet shone. The one flaw, if one could call it that, was the tiny fang peeking over her lower lip. Was she a vampire? He wondered about that but quietly filled that tidbit away as he knelt before the little girl, careful to seem as un-threatening as possible. Wouldn't do to spook her, after all.

"Hey there, chibi." he remarked quietly. "Are you lost? Where's your mommy?"

Those eerie eyes regarded him for a moment.

A tiny finger rose.

Pointed. Past. Him.

"Mama."

Shaltear's jaw clicked open.

"HA?!"

"Oho!" Naruto cried! "She broke character! Didn't think that was-

Then that finger swung towards him.

"Papa."

"EH?!"

"Oho?" a deep, dark voice resonated behind him. "I entertain you in my home and this is how you repay me? By sullying Shaltear?" He didn't have to turn to know who it was.

Naruto blanched at Ains's menacing aura. It would've been funny, really, if he wasn't so confused. And terrified.

Did he mention terrified?

As if on cue, the child pivoted on one heel and turned towards him. Ains paused, taken aback. Until she spoke.

"Grampa." she lisped.

The silence was deafening. And then:

"SAAAAAGE~!"

"N-Now wait a sec! I don't understand what's going on! I swear, I never-

A hand snapped up in the same instant.

"Triplet Maximize Magic: CALL GREATER THUNDER!"

"Ack!"

And the world burned white.

R&R! =D