Chapter 2
Kouseigakura wasn't a village, it was a city at least that's how they saw it. Around it stood a 180m wall with nine old fashioned metal windmills outside. The buildings weren't modern, but they weren't rustic either they were in-between yet simple at the same time. There was indeed technology, TVs on buildings, streetlights here and there, some had strange devices that the trio couldn't even guess what they were, and the rest was things they recognized. The clothes were pretty varied, but not what she'd seen people wear. Different race different fashion.
The people they passed looked worried, and they had a right to be. There was a group of aliens walking through their village; sure they were being escorted, but still. Then there were the way they reacted to Naruto, they spoke his name with reverence. He did say he was the head of the Uzumaki Clan so that must mean something very important. So he really wasn't just a solider, he was someone of high standing. At least he didn't act like some stuck up ass like certain people she knew.
"We're being followed, and they aren't being subtle about it." Garrus said.
They counted six people in green and blue uniforms following them. Each one wore a metal and cloth head with a strange symbol etched onto it. None had guns, but they had a variety of melee weapons including gauntlets with three, long claws made of some kind of black material. All eyes were on them, but they kept a certain distance. They were smart to be cautious, she and Liara still had their biotics. Garrus was the one they had to worry about. Shepard had brought him because he could keep his cool, and to show diversity. She realized how bad that last part sounded.
"We're here." Naruto said. "Once we step inside we'll be subjected to the judgment of the five Kage." He looked to Shepard. "The Hokage Kakashi Hatake, the Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi, the Raikage Darui, the Mizukage Mei, and the Kazekage Gaara."
"Any advice?"
"They're strong, and smart enough to prove that they've earned their respective positions, they've been doing this for years."
The blonde said as they walked inside. They were greeted people in strange masks at lest to the Normandy crew members they were weird. "Anbu, the Kage really are ready for us."
"Uzumaki-San." The ANBU in the fox mask walked up to the blonde. "Do you realize the situation?" she asked.
"Yes, but I hope you haven't done anything rash." He answered.
"Of course not you taught me better." She said before looking the aliens. "You're people haven't been harmed, but a barrier has been put around them to both contain them and keep the wildlife from feasting on them."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me, depending on how this goes, the air in that barrier may be taken out completely or a poison gas could be injected as a merciful execution." She said. "It's all up to you."
This was no threat, it was a warning. If she messed up then her crew could be easily killed, this was on her. How did they know where her crew was?
"Calm down Hina—I mean Kitsune, they're smart enough to not do anything stupid." Naruto said hoping to assure her, he then leaned forward. "Adjust your mask, the blonde is showing."
The Anbu leader quickly did so in order to hide her blonde hair.
"Don't keep the Kage waiting." she said before leaving. Giving them one last look before exiting the building, needless to say she wasn't impressed.
"Who was that?"
"Hinata Uzumaki she's not a bad person she just takes her job seriously, and wants to avoid hurting your people if she can help it." Naruto ushered for them to follow him. No more delays.
Kouseigakura – Kage Tower – Meeting Room
The Hokage Kakashi Hatake, the Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi, the Mizukage Mei, the Raikage Darui, and the Kazekage Gaara. These were the five Kage that held the most political power on the planet. The trio of aliens felt nervous for good reason, but thankfully Shepard was going to be doing all the talking.
"Who are you exactly, and what are you?" Darui asked.
"My name is Jane Shepard I'm a lieutenant commander with the Alliance Military, and a spectre for the Citadel Council." She said. "I'm a human."
"Human, you look like us, but most likely different on the inside." He said. "What's the lifespan of a human?"
"150 at most." Shepard said. "Our medical technology has come very far in a very short time."
"Your people live short lives, how sad." Darui said. "Sorry, that's rude, it's just upsetting to know your people die so young."
They remembered the days where they didn't have this longevity, but gaining had changed their outlook. Anyone under 200 was a child to them, and to die before then was beyond tragic. It was adopted by the second generation, and continued on.
'They must be long lived like the asari and krogan, but they're looking at me with actual pity.' Shepard noticed. '150 must be very young for them, maybe not even adult age?'
"You said that you're with the Alliance Military and the Citadel Council?" Kakashi said.
"Yes, the Systems Alliance is the representative body of Earth and all the human colonies in Citadel space." She explained. "While the Citadel Council is the…ultimate authority in Citadel space." She was hesitant to talk about such troublesome people. "The Citadel Council is an executive committee made up of one representative each from the member species, there are only three members of the council." She explained. "The asari have Matriarch Tevos, the turians have councilor Sparatus, and the salarians have dalatrass Valrn."
"Humans don't have a representative?" Naruto asked.
"No, but we have an embassy." She answered. "Humanity is new to the galaxy so I don't expect us to have one in my lifetime."
"Only those three races do?"
"The asari discovered the Citadel first, then the salarians, both suggested cresting a govering body, and the turians are widely recognized as a galactic police force with the strongest military force so they were granted a seat rather quickly." Liara explained.
"Everyone else got embassies." Garrus added. "The batarians closed theirs because they were angry at the council for giving humans worlds to colonize, the krogan lost theirs during the rebellion, and the quarians lost theirs because they unleashed the geth on the galaxy and creating AI is illegal." He explained.
'AI are illegal, well it looks like I might have to hide them.' He silently said. 'If they let their AI get out of control then they might not have created them like we did ours.'
Were the quarians irresponsible with their AI management? The krogan rebellion sounded like something to look into as well. The batarians sound like angry brats, but he wouldn't pass full judgement yet. He needed more information.
"You want assistance in repairing your ship, correct?" Mei asked.
"Yes, we do…" Shepard said. 'Why the hell is her chest so big?!'
Shepard knew that she didn't have the most curvaceous figure, but she was still attractive to men and women. This woman on the on other hand was a total knockout in the face, and the chest. Shepard didn't want to see the rest of her, her pride couldn't take the hit.
"Naruto-kun, what's your take on it?" she asked.
"We can fix it pretty easily, the material of the hull is weaker than the stuff we use, but we can integrate our tech into it." He stated. "Shepard, is there a search party coming to investigate if you don't report back within an allotted time?"
"Yes, in six days."
This was going good.
"What happens once they find a race like us?" Kakashi asked.
"Well, they're required to say something to the Citadel Council, any new race encountered must be at least invited to join the galactic community, and must know the laws to abide by." She explained. "As a spectre I'm required to do the same, and with your peoples abilities there's a good chance the Citadel Council will want to give you an embassy on the Citadel."
"Which would be seen as unfair, to gain an embassy a race has to contribute something significant to the galaxy like new technology or something." Garrus said.
"What are the benefits?"
"Well, because this is your only world, and you don't have any ships you'd receive quite a bit of support in gaining both." He said. "It might take a while for them to find you worlds to colonize, but ships are easy."
"We can build our own." Kurotsuchi growled. "We don't need any sort of—"
"We can always modify and upgrade what's given to us, and show them that we can make things better." Naruto said. "Please keep your composure Kurotsuchi-chan."
The Kage let out a sigh, she didn't want to admit it, but Naruto's suggestion was good. If they decided to actually join the galactic community, and things went as Shepard and Garrus said. They would have to start building ships now. To protect themselves, and expand. Thankfully this meeting was being secretly live streamed to the leaders of the minor villages, and smaller cities. Kouseigakura was the largest by far, and there was much that the visitors from the stars hadn't been told.
"What would they demand of us, and what would they try to enforce?" Kakashi asked.
"Well, they can't actually demand anything of your people nor can they enforce their laws unless you actually decide to actually join the galactic community." Shepard explained.
This was it. This was all the Kage needed from the trio for the time being.
"Commander Shepard, we'll fix your ship for you." Kakashi said much to her relief. "As for the other issue, that's a bigger issue that we'll be discussing with the other leaders." He then looked to Naruto. "Our guests are your responsibility from here on out."
"Understood, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said. 'I might have to act as a representative in the future, something I'm not exactly suited for.'
"Thank you." Shepard said.
With that the meeting was over, they'd succeeded in getting what they wanted, and more. This was the best possible outcome for the meeting, but things were only going to get harder from here on out. Everyone would have to be careful lest the meeting go to waste.
Milles Outside Kouseigakura – Forest – Normandy
The barrier around them wasn't like anything they'd ever encountered before, and frankly they were to tired to try breaking out of it again. Whatever it was made out of, it was enough to withstand everything they threw at it. Then there were the people who had put it up, those masked individuals in the hooded cloaks.
"Think they're alright?" Joker asked looking to Kaiden.
Kaiden was silent for a few moments as he thought about Jokers question. Their situation was unique for sure, but not a death sentence.
"Well we haven't been harmed, just detained so I'm guessing they're negotiations are going well enough; I mean it's been over 3 hours." He said. "We have to have some faith…it's all we've got now."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." He said.
The barrier around them suddenly disappeared, and they were absent get a clear look at those on the outside. There were more, but these ones weren't masked and wore actual uniforms. They did indeed look like humans which made it easy to tell gender. Also, they were completely surrounded.
"Shit!" Ashley cursed. "Did the Commander fail?"
The rest of the crew aimed as well, but nobody fired not yet. The shinobi were simply standing there, sizing them up, whispering to each other in hushed tones, and waiting. They made no threatening movements as per their superiors orders. Yet they were ready to defend themselves. The Normandy crew couldn't tell, but the shinobi had advanced barriers on them as well, barriers that would protect them from the guns for a significant amount of time.
"Ashely you need to calm down, there's no proof that Shepard is dead, you're jumping to conclusions that might get us all killed." Tali said.
"How can you say that when we're completely surrounded by the enemy?"
"We don't know if they're the enemy, and we don't want to be the ones to make them the enemy if Shepard is still alive." She said.
"I'm still alive."
Everyone turned their attention to the voice they were all to glad to hear. Shepard, Liara, and Garrus were back from negotiations. Naruto was walking with them as well with a smile on his face. The negotiations must've gone well.
"Good news, we're going to fix your ship." Naruto said.
"For obvious reasons we can't go into the village so Naruto's clan has opted to provide us with food, shelter, blanks, and clothes." Shepard stated.
"What of these soldiers?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
Shepard looked to Naruto snapped his fingers, and the shinobi disappeared in an instant. He had no need to vocally tell them to leave, they knew to follow orders. Now he was the only shinobi among them, but not for long.
"That takes care of them, but what now?" Joker asked.
"We need to set up camp away from the Normandy so we don't get in the way of repairs." She said.
All they had to do was wait.
Chapter 2 End