Naruto:
World Tour

By: Nagi-Oki, The Kabuto no Miko

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. The villages outside the belt however are based on a theory I have about the Naruto universe. If I'm wrong I'm wrong but this is my fic so siddown and shaddap! Miss conducter here knows where to take you. There'll be danger, adventure, magic, love (both straight and otherwise), and of course low class crass humour. If any of you have a problem with how I portray the characters or what they do or if you're offended, screw you, the horse you rode in on, and the fascist government you support. EFF THE FCC. I LIKE MY FREE SPEACH. As for time, this story takes place shortly after Tsunade becomes the Hokage but before Sasuke abandons the village.

Chapter 1: Strangers from a Strange Land

"GOOOOOOOOD MORNING KONOHA!"

That was Naruto's morning battlecry, any other morning he would have slept in or have woken up too groggy to care but today was special. Iruka sensei agreed to spar with him and see how well he learned under the Ero-Sennin (Jiraiya, pervert hermit). He bounced through the apartment day-dreaming as he speedily dressed himself. He was going to show Iruka his Rasengan and blow him away! He could just see the look on his sensei's face. His attention was caught by the sound of hoof-beats outside.

He flung open his window looking for the source of the sound. He saw several heavily armed people riding on horses heading towards the Hokage's office. They were dressed outlandishly, their armor was all metal plates, with chain ringed shirts underneath. The men looked rough and ragged, with long hair and thick beards, even a few of the women riders looked capable of taking on an army.

"Who the heck're they...?"

The young genin scratched his head pondering the strange vistors then thought to himself that maybe Iruka sensei knew something. He grabbed the freshest piece of fruit he had and took off to find his beloved teacher and friend.

It didn't take him long, Naruto soon found his sensei conversing with a young man. He paused realizing he was dressed similar to the riders he had seen earlier. This green haired guy was a few years older than him. He was dressed in hard leather armoring with a sword strapped to his side.

"Oi! Naruto!"

Iruka waved his favorite student over, "I'm so glad I ran into you, I wanted you to meet Maze." He gestured to the green haired individual next to him, who set his golden eyes on Naruto with with an amused grin.

"Yo, smallfry."

"SMALLFRY?" Naruto cried out in indignation. How dare this taller guy call him on his shortness! He rolled up his sleeve, "I'm gunna raise you right off the pavement!"

Iruka stepped in between the two, "Oi! Oi! Naruto! Easy now, Maze is a guest in this village. He comes from one of the villages to the far west."

Naruto huhed and looked Maze over for some indication of where his village was. Surely enough, there was no forehead protector anywhere on his outfit. He repeated his sensei's words, "Villages to the far west...?"

Iruka looked stunned at his student, "Didn't you pay attention when I taught world culture? There are villages all over the world with specialized methods of defense. Maze here happens to be from one of those villages."

"What's left of them anyway...Because of the governments now regulating their own military forces, a lot of villages have been forced to disband. Part of the reason why we're here..."

Naruto scratched his head,this was too much for his simple blonde head to endure. He was about to open his mouth when he noticed three more people approaching, similar to Maze's age and attire. Two looked identicle with their wild blonde hair and light hard leather outfits. The one had a light teenage mustache and the other was clearly a girl. The guy in the back had a cloak on and it was hard to see his face and body, he had a falcon perched on his shoulder.

Maze grinned seeing these people show up, "These are the members of my team, That's Dagger and Steel, the fastest runners EVER. And that guy's Vulvine, the smartest tracker in the moors, there's NOTHING he can't find and that's one of his partners Windzer."

Naruto nodded to Maze's comrads, they still looked weird in his mind and totally out of place. But they didn't seem too upset or even bothered by the stares and murmurs of the people of Konoha. They carried themselves with complete confidence in themselves. His thoughts were shattered by a loud screech in the sky. He looked skyward to see another falcon flying high above them.

"Engvall...Not a good sign..."

The guy known as Vulvine spoke in a monotone clipped voice held out his arm onto which the bird landed. Maze looked to the bird, "Didn't Bindo and the captain take him?"

"They caught up with us that quickly? I didn't think it was moving that fast..."

Dagger folded her arms, looking to Maze for their orders. Maze was silent for a minute, "Alright, Dagger, take off your braces. You're gonna stretch your legs..."

At this the wild haired blonde smiled, eagerly reaching down to unhook the two large metal cuffs attached to her ankles. They fell to the ground with a loud crunch. She nodded to Vulvine who let the bird take off, flying off into the distance. Dagger tensed then shot off running at a clip that made Naruto and his teacher blush. The only trace of her was the cloud of kicked up dust rising into the air.

"E-excuse me Maze, what's this all about..." Iruka was now curious about what was going on. Naruto however decided to inspect the cuff. He went to pick one up and winced, it was heavy, very heavy.

Maze cleared his throat, "Uh yea, that's another reason why we're here. A few members of our party were tracking a monster that was headed this way."

"A MONSTER?"

Naruto almost jumped hearing this, "And it's headed for Konoha?"

"It's already here."

Naruto and Iruka jumped hearing Dagger speak behind them.

"How long were you there?" Cried Iruka.

"A few seconds, Maze you better come see this..."

Dagger lead the group down the trail she blazed through the woods with her speed. Iruka insisted that he and Naruto go with them to see what was going on. Dagger led them to a small clearing, she turned and blocked Naruto's path, "Maybe it's better you just wait here, this isn't a pretty scene..."

"Hey! I may be young but I'm not a chicken! If you can take it I can take it!"

"I never said you were but this is a nasty kill."

At the word 'kill', Iruka pushed past Dagger and looked two see two crumpled figures lying torn and tattered on the ground. He swallowed, "Naruto...please stay back..."

Naruto silenced his protests, if Iruka was this shaken up he had better keep he distance. Maze approached the bodies. He looked over the remains with a clinical eye, "Fenris was here..."

Vulvine was looking over some disturbed brush and broken branches, "From what I can tell, the beast caught them while they were talking. Judging by the amount of disturbance, this wasn't a planned kill. It was spontaneous, spurred by the thing's hunger."

"There was no joy in this kill for him..." Maze touched the flesh wound sniffing it, "This was a feed kill, just to keep him going. He took them out fast and stuffed himself. Two hours old, he's probably scouting the town, looking for good feeding grounds..."

"Wait a minute!" Iruka clasped a hand on Maze's shoulder. "What do you mean 'him'? You know what did this!"

Before Maze could answer, a man much older than Iruka stepped out of the underbrush. He was another tall muscled barbarian. But he had a patch over his left eye,and gray hairs growing into his long beard and hair. He spoke in a deep commanding voice, "Good deduction Maze. And as for HIM, it's a monstrous wolf beast. A heartless killer of children and hound of hell...We call it Fenris."

Iruka swallowed looking over the remains of the two unfortunate ninjas. He looked over at Naruto who was starting to get antsy, trying to peak around Dagger who was still holding him at bay. Maze took a blanket out of his pack and covered the bodies. Iruka felt a slight sense of relief that these strangers were professional about this.

"Captain, where's Bindo? Don't tell me that sylvan dumb flaked out..."

The captain shook his head, "He's tailing Fenris around the village. Maze please tell me the trappers are here..."

Maze shook his head, "The other ship didn't have the nuts to brave the storm. They're one day behind us."

The captain closed his eye, considering their options. Naruto walked over to Iruka's side, looking curiously at the blanket covered figures.

"Sensei, what's going on? What happened?"

Iruka patted Naruto's head, trying to convince him nothing bad was going on, "Just a problem with a wild animal. I'm sure these fine people have it all under control."

"Eh? But they're talking about some Ferris thing and whose this big guy and why?"

Maze grabbed the blanket and lifted it, showing Naruto the remains underneath. Naruto froze, his eyes locked on the carcasses on the ground. Iruka turned on Maze, "Why did you do that?"

Maze spoke seriously to Naruto, "Picture a wolf the size of a bull, four inch fangs, three inch claws, blood red eyes, and a REALLY bad temper. Now picture that wolf turning your little village into it's own personal feeding trough."

Maze let the blanket fall down on the figures before turning to the captain, "Sir, we don't have time to wait on the trappers. But you know and I know we can't tackle it without 'em. I say...we recruit what shooters from this village we can and get this bastard as fast as we can."

The captain was silent fror a minute, before he let out a soft chuckle, "It's a risky and desperate gambit you're proposing, but it's what I would have done in your situation...Very well, little boy!"

Naruto looked up, knowing he was being addressed, but the size and authority of this powerful figure had him hesitate about being called on his shortness.

"I need you to round up a small group of people to help us. They gotta be brave, have good aim, and a good amount of nerve in 'em. But try to keep as quiet as you can about this. If people panic, then Fenris'll have a field day picking them off. If ya do that for me son, you can have this."

The captain held up a kukri blade that almost glimmered in the youth's eyes. The blade was sharp and even, well crafted. The handle was covered in a red leather bound tightly to the metal frame, and the pommel was quartz crystal. Naruto's eyes lit up looking at the blade, he had never seen a type of knife or dagger like that.

He immediately saluted the captain, "Yessir!" And turned running off to assemble the crew he was ordered. The captain grinned, watching the boy run off.

"Gods Captain, do you have to play grandpa to every kid you meet? It kinda does nothing for your tough guy image."

The captain chuckled heartily, "Never mock the bond between a teacher and a pupil young Maze. Besides, the lil' squirt reminds me of you at that age."

Maze hmphed, "Oh please, I wasn't THAT unsightly as a kid. And I had more compitence than THAT."

Tsunade yawned loudly as she put aside some finished paperwork, pulling fresh unread files onto her desk. She sighed, being the Hokage was dull and repetative at times. Shizune looked up from Ton-Ton to her mentor, "Tsunade-san? Would you like me to make you some coffee or tea?"

"Thank you Shizune, I could use some tea...Another file to fill out and I think I'll collapse into a coma..."

Shizune was about to get up when suddenly the doors flew open, kicked open by a massive muscular man. The man was easily over 6 feet in height, his face was drawn up in a frown,his long blonde hair and mustache framing his manly chin and face. His piercing blue eyes scanned the room falling on the surprised face of Tsunade.

"You! Haggy! I'm here to see the Hokage! Get yer saggy in gear an' bring 'im out!"

Shizune was about to protest when Tsunade waved her hand down, "Scram little man, I'm the Hokage and I don't take kindly to rude visitors!"

The man laughed heartily, "You have to be kidding, I asked for the Hokage not his personal call girl! Now be a good tart and go fetch him, NOW!"

Tsunade got up slamming her fists down on the desk, "Just who the hell do you think you are! I see I'll have to teach you some manners!" She vaulted over the desk, thundering up to the big man.

Now this fight hadn't gone unnoticed. Several chuunins had gathered outside the office to watch. Kotetsu shook his head, "Dead man walkin'..."

Genma nodded in agreement, chewing on a toothpick, "This guy must be suicidal..."

The man glared down at Tsunade, "Don't test me woman, I've killed harpies prettier than you without batting an eyelash. Knocking off an old crone like yourself don't mean much to me!"

"Your voice is getting on my nerves, I'm gonna enjoy splitting you right down the middle!"

"Are you ready to die TART?"

"Only if I can get a big hug first!"

The two burst into laughter and hugged each other close. Tsunade almost vanishing in the big man's biceps. Shizune and the chuunins were silent as they stood there confused and more or less shocked. Jiraiya happened to amble along at that time, he looked over Izumo and Kotetsu, "What's going on?"

Izumo rubbed his head, "I think all the concussions I've gotten over the years have finally taken effect..."

Kotetsu added, "Not to mention all the alcohol that's killed off most of my brain..."

The big man turned and smiled at Jiraiya, "You useless sack of monkey nuts! Good to see you!"

Jiraiya burst out laughing, "Same to you, you godless son of pig!"

Shizune whimpered, "Tsu-Tsunade-san...?"

Tsunade turned to her protoge, "Sorry Shizune, that's just a greeting between us old friends. This is Otis, an old friend of mine from Green Knot. Jiraiya and I knew him from long ago."

Shizune breathed a heavy sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, I thought you two were about to kill each other."

Otis, the big man, looked up from the friendly headlock he had Jiraiya in, "Me? Kill ol' Tsunade? Hah! We'd both die of exhaustion before we'd ever get THAT far!"

Tsunade invited her old friends inside, eager to escape paperwork if even just for a little while, "C'mon in! What brings you so far to our neck of the woods...?"

An hour later Naruto had rounded up all the genins plus Shikamaru in the forest. Maze looked over the group, appraising everyone quickly before turning to the captain, "Looks like we're stuck."

Naruto bounced up and down, "Can I have the knife now captain sir please?" The captain only grinned and patted Naruto's head fondly.

"A warrior is rewarded AFTER their mission son. You help us pull it off and you can keep it."

Shikamaru, the only chuunin present aside from Iruka, blinked looking at the strangers, "Wait a minute, Naruto's getting paid for this and we're not? Pff, how troublesome."

A sudden gust of wind picks up, the group braces themselves as Dagger and Steel return carrying bow and arrows. The speedy twins depositing the weapons on the ground, the ninjas looking over the strange weaponry. Maze picks up a bow and an arrow, he knotches the arrow and pulls back. He takes steady aim then sends the arrow flying, catching a leaf against the tree trunk.

The genins oohed, impressed by the action. They turn looking at Maze, wondering what the stranger wants them to do. Neji was the first to speak up.

"Exactly who are you and what's this all about? Naruto was a bit sketchy on the details."

Iruka stepped forward, "I'll answer that, students we have a small situation. These people here are extermination specialists, they've tracked a hostile beast to this village and need our help getting rid of it."

Sasuke looked over Maze, sizing him up, he was a little older and definately well trained for combat. He'd definately have to keep his Sharingan ready in case he did something special. He raised his voice to speak, "If these specialists are so good then why do they need our help?"

Maze narrowed his eyes at Sasuke, half ready to step up to the little punk and give him a hard lesson. Iruka held up a hand, "Sasuke, half their team is still trying to get here. So they're short handed and Konoha is our village. This is our time to show them we ninjas are up to anything!"

Shikamaru sighed, "If that's the case, shouldn't WE just take on the beast ourselves?"

This got the group murmuring amoungst themselves. They were a village of ninjas, why did they need some outsiders to get rid of a beast? Their idle chattering was broken up by the high pitched scream of Shikamaru. Maze had taken the remainders of one of the ninjas and taken the liberty of showing it to the students, especially him.

Iruka snapped at Maze, "Will you stop scaring the hell out of the students PLEASE!"

Shikamaru cleared his throat, staring into the glazed over eye staring back at him, "Ok, ok, we need help! Just get THAT out of my face!"

Maze returned it to the blanket, "Ok, we've got a few hours to prepare. We hunt under the cover of darkness. Until then, it's shooting practice for the lot of you."

Naruto hurriedly grabbed a bow, "Easy as ramen! A ninja is a MASTER of weaponry! You just take this thingy here and pull this here...andooowww!" Naruto rubbed the inside of his forearm that the string struck.

Sasuke rolled his eyes then took the bow from Naruto, "Here dobe, let me do that for you." Sasuke quickly knotched an arrow, showing Naruto what he did. Then he drew back the arrow, aiming for the same tree Maze hit. He loosed the arrow, smiling to itself as it hit the tree a mere inch above Maze's.

The captain nodded his approval, "Very good son, Fenris is as good as gone with you on our side."

Maze fahhed, stepping past Sasuke with as much respect for him as drooling dog. His attention was on the few girls of the group. Sakura blushed as Maze stepped over, he smiled wistfully, "An who might be?"

Sakura blushed, "I MIGHT be Sakura."

Maze ahhed, getting down on his knee before her, taking her hand in his and gently kissing it, "Your hair has the pail beauty of the flower of your namesake."

Sakura almost melted on her feet, this green-haired foreigner was charming. He was paying attention to her, he even got down on one knee for her. Inner Sakura was screaming how like a romance novel. The other girls giggled, but someone was fuming.

Lee pushed forward getting in front of Maze, "How dare you afront Sakura-san like that! You-you...playboy!"

Maze looked at Lee for a moment, "Sorry frogger, I'm straight. I think that guy over there might have a thing for ya though." He pointed at Sasuke who was knotching another arrow. He got up, stetching out.

"Ok girls, I hate asking you for this but I'm gonna need a volunteer to be bait. Everybody knows monsters just LUUUUUUUUV beautiful virgin girls and I can tell I'm looking at the best this village has to offer."

This earned a collective giggle from the four. Lee however pointed out, "Risk their lives against a monster? Are you crazy?"

"Look grasshole, it's safe, Dagger and Steel'll have their back. And no one's faster than those two."

Steel grinned, smacking elbows with his sister, "He ain't lyin'! But pick a light one Maze, I'm not lugging a chunker at top speed."

This earned the blonde a collective death glare from Ten Ten, Sakura, and Ino. Hinata just fiddled with her fingers, feeling a little nervous. The captain stepped up to Hinata, knealing down to her level, "How about you dear? This is an important job and I think you're the right girl for it. As Maze said, Dagger and Steel over there will be protecting you. And I'll die first before I let anyone here come to harm."

Hinata blushed, stammering a little as she thought the offer over. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Neji looking at her with an arrogent smirk. He knew she was going to back out, and that thought made her mad. She looked to the captain with confidence, "Leave it to me, captain sir!"

A few hours later, the sun was beginning to set and the group had practiced to the best of their abilities. Maze had borrowed Akamaru for a demonstration, after getting the pup to stand on a stump and stay for more than a second Maze knealed down, "Ok, I'm only going over this once, so PAY CLOSE ATTENTION."

Maze pointed along Akamaru's neck, midsection, and hind quarters, "Ok, these are the three spots you're aiming for. The arrows are specially barbed so the more he struggles the deeper they'll work in. Once you've got the arrows in brace the ropes around the nearest tree and pull tight. While Dagger and Steel distract him, the captain and I'll move in for the kill. We only get one shot at this so we have to make it count."

Naruto hmmed looking over Akamaru, "Ok so these three areas right? And we just hold him down while you have all the fun?"

The captain chuckled, "Trust me boy, it's not as easy as it sounds. I've had forty years experience killing monsters and this job is the hardest. The beast'll hurt, hungry, and mad as hell. So it'll be harder to get a safe opening in."

Sakura and Ino looked down at the bolas they were given, "And we get his legs so he can't run or kick right?"

The captain nods to the girls, "That's right, this operation requires perfect timing so no one fires until I give the word..."

Just then a slim indidual slid out of a tree trunk, walking out of it like he just stepped out of a shower. This guy was slim with brown hair and tanned skin. His loose tunic shirt and leather pants indicated he was with the group. His face was strangely young looking, and his ears were pointed. The group watched him in silence.

Maze sighed, "I guess you guts don't have wood elves this far east huh? This is Bindo, he's been following the monster for us." He paused leaning in closer and sniffing the elf's face. He grimaced, "Make that getting wasted at the local bar...what's wrong with you!" THWAK

Bindo owwed and rubbed the new lump on his head, "I'm not drunk! I wanted to taste the local stuff is all! Geez!"

"Did you lose Fenris?"

"No he's asleep in his new den about 60 yards that way."

Maze hmmed, they were in perfect position then, they didn't need to pack up and move out. He turned to Hinata, "And you remember what you do right?"

"I-I lead him back here to you guys. Then I hide from the skirmish."

"Very good, and when we're successful how bout we throw a big party in your honor. A hero's banquet!"

Naruto woohooed, "Will there be ramen?"

Ino squealed out, "Will there be more cute guys?"

Kiba grinned, "How about hot babes?"

Maze hehhed, now THERE was motivation to succeed. He turned, the sun had completely set and darkness was falling, "Ok, everyboy take cover. Bindo, take the twins and Hinata here on ahead. It's time our honored guest made an appearance."

To Be Continued...