Ok guys and girls, and girls and guys, here is the 8th chapter
Sorry I have been absent as of late, been seriously lacking any motivation to do anything lately.
Although I will say the past year has been rather interesting
Also, I have been having plot bunnies, such as a Jade Empire and Naruto Crossover and writing up my own Power Rangers fanfic.
Btw if you get the chance read Konoha's Shinobi Rangers by 3rdNightingale, do it.
Also, wanted to run an idea past you fine readers, I had an idea to include Alexstrasza in the pairing. Sound like a good idea?
Anyway on with show! -presses a red button with a yellow lightning bolt-
Naruto was currently standing outside the Hokage's office; humming a tune to himself he had heard on the radio. He had been summoned to the Hokage's office by Yuugao Uzuki, his former ANBU Black Ops captain, saying that the Hokage had an important matter to discuss with him, and knowing Tsunade it could be anything from a SS-rank mission to a get rich quick scheme. Sighing he kept sitting in one of the chairs outside the Hokage's Office, contemplating the many turns his life had taken, from being seen as less than gutter trash by most of the villagers as a child to now being seen as one of its greatest heroes, some people even putting up there with the First and Fourth Hokages. After sitting there, which if anyone knew Naruto was basically sentencing him to hell, for five more minutes Shizune finally exited and looked at Naruto with a smile.
"Lady Tsunade will see you now," Shizune announced.
"Bout time," Naruto stated, walking in with an annoyed look on his face, even after all these years patience still could not be counted amongst Naruto's virtues although it was not for lack of trying. Standing in front of the Hokage's desk Naruto had a look of annoyance on his face.
"What you want Granny," Naruto asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance, only to be met with a heavily dented paper weight to hit him upside the head.
"I have a proposition for you," Tsunade stated, the annoyed tick evident above her left eye, "I want you train some of our new citizens in the Shinobi arts."
Now this caught Naruto's attention, the Konoha's new citizens had only officially been citizens for about a month or two at the most. However if he were to be honest they didn't really need to become shinobi, after all the orcs abilities to call on the elements, in many ways, was superior than what most ninja could come up with, the elves magic was just as, if not more, diverse, and the trolls druid abilities put the Henge no Jutsu to shame in some regards, nevermind that was just the abilities that each group was known for and that each group more than likely had member trained in hand to hand, weapon, ranged, and stealth fighting styles.
"They seem capable enough," Naruto stated, squinting his eyes at the Hokage.
"You're right and normally I would let it be," Tsunade replied, sighing in exasperation, "but the Civilian Council is looking for any reason to kick our new, and more industrious, citizens out."
Naruto sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, having remembered that hate crimes were through the roof in regards to the Orcs, Blood Elves, and Trolls. Not that any of them ever complained about it though, because on one hand, what civilian law enforcement would listen if they did try to bring it up, and on the other hand they would not want to be seen as whiners. All in all, Naruto wouldn't have blamed them if they did leave at the rate things were going.
"Making some of them Shinobi would help how exactly," Naruto asked, already feeling a headache coming on, from personal experience he knew that while it might make things easier in some regards, what with an attack against a shinobi being investigated to the fullest extent of the law. It also made it more difficult in some regards, while the Shinobi police would investigate if something happened inside the village gates there was nothing stopping the Civilian Council from paying off a dirty shinobi to kill someone outside the gates, and Naruto knew exactly which people in the Shinobi Corps were dirty, not that he had any evidence to the fact.
"At this point it would be more like a band-aid for the problem, at least until we could figure out who is responsible for the recent string of attacks," Tsunade answered, after all she even had handpicked ANBU Black Ops shinobi investigating the crimes.
"Fine," Naruto stated, sighing once again in exasperation, "I'll do it, on the condition I get to pick my team."
"Consider it done," Tsunade replied, smiling tiredly as she hoped that this would at least alleviate some of the problems.
In Stormwind…
After a lengthy trial, many character witnesses, and no small amount of satisfaction of sticking it to the Council of the Kirin Tor, Varian Wrynn was begrudgingly declared innocent of any wrongdoings. It also pleased Thrall to no end that preparations were once again underway, with a majority support from the Alliance too. Now they were just finalizing plans.
"If we leave from here," Thrall stated, pointing to a port city on Kalimdor's western coast, "we should be there in as little as three months weather permitting, no sea serpents or other sea monsters attacking, and with the winds in our favor."
"We're basing this on what exactly," Malfurion asked, eyeing the map.
"The Horde has, in the past, sent ships out with only a handful ever coming back," Thrall answered.
"And of those handful how many of the crew were left," Vereesa asked, eyeing Thrall with concern.
"About half the crew could have been considered alive," Thrall answered.
"Considered," Alexstrasza stated, the question evident in her voice.
"Some of them were missing a limb," Thrall answered, "others were badly burned, and a handful looked as if they had been mauled by wolves."
"And we're going in here to find Sylvanas," Varian asked, nose scrunching in thought, "seems a steep price for one person."
"For just one person yes," Thrall answered, "but the few expeditions that did return also brought back some trinkets that were almost worth my weight in gold."
Now that would serve as ample justification for this expedition, after all a land where just the trinkets were worth an orc's weight in gold? What kind of money hungry sea captain could pass up such a golden opportunity?
"How much longer will we need before everything is ready," Ysera asked, looking up from the map and at Thrall.
"At the rate, we're currently going all ships, personnel, and supplies should be ready by the end of next month," Varian answered, "and it will be a grand expedition."
"The first of many endeavors together I hope," Thrall stated, a smile showing his fangs. This declaration was met with cheers as they all began to contemplate the future.
Back with Naruto…
Now if anyone were to ask about Naruto's ability to formulate plans the overwhelming consensus would be that his ability to strategize was at its best if he was in the thick of things, and that his plans were more often than not the most ludicrous things ever, with some people even saying that his plans were so crazy they had no other option but to work. Of course, this would also explain why he was currently in a free for all against a group of two hundred clones.
'How am I going to get this to work,' Naruto thought, as he used chakra enhanced strength to grab a clone and use it as a club, taking out ten other clones.
Sylvanas sat on the sidelines, a long-forgotten ache in her chest, as she watched Naruto work out his frustrations, right now she wanted nothing more than to hold him as he talked to her about his problems. It was at that moment Sylvanas felt a presence approaching her from behind, quickly turning around she quickly drew her daggers in the same motion and made to defend herself.
"You can put those away," stated a pink haired girl, looking over Sylvanas's shoulder at Naruto as he fought his clones. Slowly, Sylvanas put her daggers away, but kept her hands where she could grab them at a moment's notice.
"How long has he been at it," the girl asked, eyeing the fight with equal measures of sadness and awe.
"Ten minutes since I got here," Sylvanas answered, not taking her eyes off the girl.
"Something must be troubling him then," the girl stated, the awe turning to curiosity. Sylvanas was about to ask what she meant when the girl put on a pair of gloves and punched the ground, causing the earth beneath their feet to shake and crack. After the shaking stopped Sylvanas unsheathed her daggers, ready to attack the woman, only for the pinkette to ignore her and walk into the clearing.
"Naruto how many times have told you to not do anything like that," the pinkette asked, exasperation heavily lacing her voice.
"Always one more time," Naruto replied somewhat sheepishly.
"Better talk to your girlfriend over there," Sakura stated, pointing a thumb over her shoulder at Sylvanas, "before she blows a gasket from all the worrying she's doing."
"Yeah, I guess I should," Naruto stated, then his brain caught up with what she had said just as she was walking off, "She's not my girlfriend!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Sakura stated, just before she vanished from view. Sylvanas had stood by so far, confused about the relationship between Naruto and Sakura, and a part of her wanting to put an arrow through Sakura's head for some reason.
"What's the problem," Sylvanas asked, trying to distract herself from the need to from the urge to try and hurt Sakura.
"The Hokage asked me to put together a team of Orcs, Blood Elves, and Trolls," Naruto answered with a sigh.
"So, what's the problem," Sylvanas asked, wondering why he would be so stressed over this.
"Because a Shinobi starts their training at six years old," Naruto answered, "and in the case of the child being a part of a clan they start their training even younger, and then most genin don't survive their first C-rank mission outside the village walls."
"You're worried that you'd be sentencing those children to their deaths," Sylvanas stated, looking at him with understanding. All Naruto could do is nod and sigh in sadness.
"I can help if you want," Sylvanas offered, looking at him with concern, at least she thought it was concern.
"I'd like that," Naruto replied with a smile, finding the idea of having some help appealing.
'The fact that she is helping you has nothing do with it huh,' Kurama teased.
'Shut up,' Naruto thought back.
Later…
Naruto was currently sitting at the table of one of a rather nice Orc family, trying to figure out how exactly he would breach the subject of training their daughter in the Shinobi Arts.
"You simply must stay for dinner," the father, one Orgim Black-tooth, suggested, "my wife makes the most excellent Beer Basted Boar Ribs."
"Actually," Naruto stated, his face becoming somber, "there is a matter I would like to discuss regarding your daughter."
"She hasn't caused any trouble has she," Orgim asked seriously, cause right now, with relationships with the civilian side of Konoha being strained, trouble was the last thing they needed.
"No," Naruto answered quickly, "the Hokage has recently presented me with the opportunity and I wanted your permission before I involved your daughter."
"What opportunity," Orgim asked, "and why does it involve my daughter?"
"The Hokage wants me to train a team of shinobi consisting of our 'newer residents'," Naruto answered, "and before I included your son I wanted your permission to train your son."
"Well you got it," Orgim said, a grim look on his face.
"Just like that," Naruto asked, the surprise lacing his voice.
"To be quite honest all of us who immigrated are desperate," Orgim stated, "the way any of those involved would see this is to prove to the village that we are trying to be citizens."
"But can't you guys go back to the Enclave," Naruto asked, wondering why they couldn't just return.
"Were it so easy we'd have left," Orgim stated, looking down at his mug.
"But why are you trusting me," Naruto asked curiously.
"Because you're one of a handful of people who are genuinely nice to us," Orgim answered, looking up at Naruto with a sad smile, "you don't judge us because we're different, and you have almost gone out of your way to make us feel welcome, even helping us out."
"Tell your daughter to be waiting at training ground 5 a week from now," Naruto said with a smile, "and I think I will stay, also can you help me out, I'm having lady troubles."
In An Unknown Location…
It had many names, the Fallen One, It That Devours, and The Destroyer, just to name a few. It had been imprisoned since the beginning of time itself. It wanted nothing more than to be free from its prison, but it would have to wait. Currently it had two of its pieces on the board, the one the mortals called the Lich King and the vengeful one called Garrosh Hellscream. Now it would just need to maneuver a few pieces into place, because his freedom would not do on its own, it wanted the favorite races of those that imprisoned it to suffer. If it could, right now it would chuckle, after all it had countless eons, and when you had as long as it had to plan and strategize then you could come up with a great plan, if you were feeling lazy. All it had to do now is have patience, and if there was one thing it had learned after all these years in imprisonment it was patience.
So what do you lovely readers think?
Also has anyone seen the new Power Rangers movie and could possibly tell me if it's any good?
Oh and as a challenge to any writers who are probably reading this, can you do either a Spider-man vs Iron Man fanfic or a Spider-Man x Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) fic?
If you accept pm for specifics.
So anyway that's all for today, and oh…
-is dressed as Heath Ledger Joker-
WHY SO SERIOUS?