A/N: I want to point out I started this, story earlier in the Fall than I did with my other crossover: Arashi Uzumaki of the Blue Plague, but still no where in the beginning, so if you want to know what happened in Blue Plague series before the point I used, you got to read the actual books. Just don't let kids read it.
I'm also censoring curse words as it's too many used in more than just saying usual ways that I can't ignore them all. At least with censoring I'm not going against my usual way of avoiding curse wordsof the Blue Plague series Tomas W. Watson, whose wife is Tina Watson. I should also tell you Watson always based a character after himself in his books, and in the Blue Plague series that's Bruce.
Finally, I don't own the Blue Plague series or the Naruto series or it's characters. But I do know the wife of the writer of the Blue Plague series Tomas W. Watson, whose wife is Tina Watson. I should also tell you Watson always based a character after himself in his books, and in the Blue Plague series that's Bruce.
If you haven't read it yet, read this first:
Blue Plague's Nine-Tail Fox's Son: The Fall
Island of Orphaned Refugee Kids and Team Konohamaru
Leading his patrol, Bruce held up his hand for the group to stop as he looked and listened to the area in front of him as everyone watch either the right side or left side as the last one in the march watch their back. Although they still have the Ravens and the Puma, Bruce still used Naruto's idea of having the group guard both sides while he guard the front and the someone watch the rear with the closest person to him/her guide them. That way even if the Ravens or Puma pick up blue activity coming their way they would see them at any direction.
They were twenty miles from the farm, looking at a clearing with several trailers in it. He motioned for the team to spread out along the tree line but not to enter the clearing yet. Matt had told them there were over forty blues on the other side of the trailers.
They had crossed the land bridge between Saline Lake and Black Lake at 9 a.m. This was the largest group not near a town or village. The populated areas were full of infected, but Bruce was not quite ready to take them on just yet. So they stayed out in the country and slaughtered any infected they could find. On patrols, the group maintain a five-mile-an-hour pace on foot carrying fully loaded tactical vest, weapons, and backpacks full of ammo plus water. Naruto can time times that even more with his seals. The family could do this because of the physical condition they stayed in. Naruto Conner and Buffy were holding up pretty well. Granted, the family never believed they would have to do what they were doing now. They had stayed in shape to enjoy adventurous lifestyle, but they were all glad they had trained for it. Also, with the additional three, it probably helped that Naruto obviously had trained for such situations since he's more built for running, and thanks to Naruto's seals, he can carry more than anyone and his tactical vest and backpack would look and feel like there were nothing in them. That's why Bruce assigned Naruto to carry the most gear out of the group, so when they ran out of even ammo, Naruto can make sure they have more ready.
It was October, only two weeks after Stephanie had given her presentation. Danny and Mary had birthday parties the last week in September and got presents. The first week of October, the family threw a birthday party for Buffy, and soon after learning that Naruto's birthday was estimated to be on the 10th (Chief of Naruto's home village before the leaf found Naruto after Naruto's father attacked after all), the family threw Naruto a birthday party as part of their welcome to the family present for Naruto.
On both celebrations, Bruce had given Buffy a small ghillie suit he had made for her so she could train as a Sniper, and Naruto a Beretta M9 that can hold 10, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 30 round magazine they found at the check point. It was basically a Semiautomatic pistol 9mm that the armed forces use. Since Naruto refuse to use a rifle and to be honest, at this point Bruce find it pointless to argue against it, Bruce thought the Beretta M9 was the next best thing. Plus Naruto needed a new pistol when his last two were mysteriously destroyed. Naruto didn't say how, but many of the guard reported hearing explosions the mornings Naruto's pistols ended up destroyed.
They were going out every morning between 4 and 5 a.m., in five or six man patrols that stayed out all day. Jake or Matt would guide them onto any infected area. They had already killed a little over two thousand infected, all in small groups. They no longer tried to avoid them but hunted infected. Bruce led patrols of six on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, with Mike insisting on going with a patrol of five on Wednesday. It was Friday, so after today, Bruce could rest for two days.
Thinking about his upcoming two days off, Bruce wiped the sweat off of his face and grinned. It was only 10 a.m. but it was already over eighty degrees. It would stay in the nineties until November if the weather stay true to form for Louisiana. It was real bad when you call ninety degrees a cold spell.
Bruce looked down the line at his patrol. Today, it was Danny, Debbie, Conner, Naruto, and Jake—with Naruto being second to last to be Jake's guide as he guard their rear since he uses his new Beretta.
Bruce never counted Buffy because as far as she was concerned, she was part of him. The only time she was not at his side was when she was with Danny. Looking at her on his left side as she was looking to her left, Her face was covered in face paint like everyone on patrol. He had her take an M-4 with a suppressor to get used to it. The weapon did look big across her little chest, but Bruce didn't think she could carry a submachine gun for her primary weapon. With the stock opened only halfway, it fit her reasonably well, and unlike the submachine gun, she could take out targets far away. After she had fired a thousand rounds through it, Buffy could hit a head-sized target at fifty yards with ease. She could hit a target at hundred yards, but it usually took several shots and a lot of steadying herself.
Buffy, like everyone else, had been learning to speed-shoot targets with both her rifle and pistol—although Naruto only use his pistol. Infected provided real life target practice, and everyone on the farm was using it. Today, Buffy was keeping up very well just like Connor and Naruto. But a five-mile-an-hour pace was a good jog for her. Her little legs kept moving, and she never complained.
Bringing himself to here and now, Bruce called Jake. "Spook One, what do you see?" Being the best sniper in the family, Jake was also the best spotter on the ground, which is why when Naruto learn this out he suggest putting Jake in as their rear guard. Naruto argued that increase visibility is important for someone guarding the rear. Sensing that Naruto had seen it in action with the mission that led to Naruto suggesting this set up, Bruce agreed.
"See several moving around in between the trailers, Big Daddy," Jake replied as Matt came over the air.
"The trailers form a semi-circle, and the group is in the middle of 'em. They're just laying around."
"They probably had a buffet somewhere and filled up too much," Naruto joked.
Bruce wanted to joke back when they heard a roar split the air. The trailers were over a hundred yards away, but it was still loud, and he felt it in his chest.
"Naruto!" Bruce said.
"Moving Threat!" Naruto said as if knowing what Bruce was about to ask.
Everyone brought their weapons up, and Buffy spun around to face the rear at the sound of the roar. Bruce did not think humans could even make that sound. It sounded like a higher pitch lion's roar. Everyone now had heard it while on patrol. So far they only seen Males do it. Sometimes, they did it when chasing after prey, but often, they roared while sitting around, which was why Bruce asked Naruto to find out if the roar were just from Blues lying around or Blues on the move. Looking through his scope, Bruce told everyone not to shoot unless they charged. All confirmed. He saw the group move up the road that led into the trailer park but were looking south, at the opposite tree line. Several kept roaring as the group moved further up the road and stopped, still looking south.
Bruce counted forty six in all with their backs to the patrol. He knew if they looked this way, it was going to get interesting real quick
"There's life somewhere south from here," Naruto said.
"Spook Two, can you see what kind of life they're interested in?" Bruce called Matt.
"I can't see anything and the battery is goin' out, so I can't fly that way. I'm calling the Raven home, and sending the Puma out. It'll take ten minutes to get to you, so don't get startin' s- yet, Big Daddy," Matt answered.
"I can scout ahead in the meantime," Naruto suggested.
"Copy, that. Go ahead Blonde Fox. Spook Two, Tell me when you're in station," Bruce said.
Naruto transformed into a bat form and few high enough that the sun should make it hard for the Blues to see him.
Naruto kept flying south until he reached a lake. On the east side of the lake, about a mile from the north end, a cluster of blues were gathered at the shore and more seem to be coming as Naruto could hear roars from that end. Naruto was confused as to why until he noticed an island off the east side. Naruto couldn't see anyone, but he had a good guess there were people there as there were buildings for humans to hide in.
I get it now, Blues think they found food, but they can't get to it because they're scared of water, Naruto thought as he remember Stephanie's report mentioning blues having the fear.
Naruto circled around to make sure he wasn't missing anything, and did see someone coming out for a while before flying back.
Meanwhile the rest of the patrol got twenty-one of the infected, but twenty-five runners gotten away. The patrol was following them.
"Big Daddy, Blonde Fox is coming back," Matt reported.
"Copy that," Bruce said.
Naruto came into a view and soar down for a landing before transforming back into human form.
"Blues are gathering at a lake south from here," Naruto said. "There's an island east from lake with people there. I saw them before coming back. I think the blues are trying to find away across without going into the water because of their fear."
"Spook Two, did you hear that?" Bruce asked.'
"Copy that. I'm guessing from how long Naruto was gone, I say Natachie Lake seven miles from your position," Matt said, "I'm sending the Puma there right now."
They waited for update as everyone drank some water.
"Big Daddy One, this is Big Daddy Two. There're several hundred blues along the bank of the north end of the lake with a lot more on the way. We're having problems keeping the Puma on station because of the distance. Do ya copy?" Mike asked.
"Copy, Big Daddy Two. We're going to see if we can help," Bruce said.
"Big Daddy One, your radio signal is getting' weak. You're fixin' to lose contact with base. Your group is over thirty miles away now," Mike said, and Bruce could hear the worry in his voice. They were now using the military radios they had gathered at the checkpoint, and they had just found the range.
"Copy that. We'll have Blond Fox lead the way then," Bruce said pulling out his map.
"Let me get another patrol headed your way incase ya get in some s-," Mike said.
"Negative on the patrol; you'd be too far away to help, and I don't want to spread surveillance too thin. Movin' out now. Will call when we can. Big Daddy One out," Bruce said, not wanting to get in a debate.
Bruce looked at the satellite/topographical map and saw the island and the lake. There was a road that ran along the east bank with houses on either side. There were several houses along the east bank and across the little road with one overlooking the area. Bruce guessed from the map it was less than a hundred and fifty yards from the bank.
"Naruto, come over here!"
Naruto rushed forward and Bruce showed him the map. "You think you can lead us to the lake using this map?"
"Sure! No problem!" Naruto said.
Bruce nodded then called everyone close so they could see the map. We're makin' for this house," he said pointing, and continued. "We'll setup on the roof and kill everything not human. Then, I'm going to this boat house and see if they have something I can paddle to the island to get the people. After we get 'em, we'll head to this pipeline to the east and follow it back to Saline Lake. If we get separated, the pipeline is the rally point. If it's compromised, head home. We will stop here at this pond to refill our water before headin' to the house. Naruto is going to lead us to the lake. Any questions?" Bruce asked, looking at everyone.
No one asked anything, and Naruto led the group at the jogging pace Bruce had set. They had lost radio contact with base at thirty-eight miles. It was almost three times the distance of their old radios. When they reached the pond to refill water with the filter pump, they could hear roars in the distance.
"It's just blue alerting they found food," Naruto said.
Bruce nodded and looked at his watch; it was almost 1 p.m. They had covered thirty-eight miles in eight hours. He looked at the group and saw they were soaked with sweat but still have plenty to give.
It took another hour and a half to cover the last mile, because they moved slowly and carefully, but Naruto did well navigating them. Bruce was actually impressed that he wanted to congratulate Naruto, but held back the urge, as Naruto wasn't supposed to know about his test in Navigating. Neither does Debbie for that matter, because when Bruce tested the kids in the past, it normally involved making the kids think they're stuck in a middle of nowhere with nothing but a compass and a map, not realizing Bruce was quietly stalking them, making sure they were okay. If Debbie found out, chances are it would turn into one of the rare all fist fight when they get home, and with this being a long journey, Bruce don't want to risk fighting tired.
Naruto stopped them ten yards from the tree line, where Bruce could see the backyard of the house. Naruto's nose was twitching, confirming that they were there. Although it was a bit cheating, compared to what his kids gone through with their test, Bruce let it go since he didn't give Naruto a compass to use.
Then, Bruce started looking to his right, he saw a mobile home. Bruce motioned to the mobile home and moved toward it inside the tree line. Naruto had to decrease his sense of smell because the smell of infected could gag a maggot. Unbelievably, it got worse the closer they got to the infected, but it didn't make anyone sick.
When they were directly behind mobile home, Bruce led the group toward the back of it. They were keeping the trailer between them and the mob as they moved toward it. The noise coming from the mob was so loud it was hurting the group's ears. Growls, yells, and an occasional roar came from the mob. It reminded Bruce of being in a football stadium. Even if they sp0ke in normal voices, no one could be heard, but no one was willing to try it out.
Still, Naruto turned to Bruce and mouthed: They're agitated.
Bruce nodded in understanding. He would be agitated too if he knew there was food nearby but he can't get to it. Especially if he was hungry—which he doubt the blues really were.
They reached the back of the mobile home, he moved a trash can and motioned Debbie to get on the roof. He sent the rest up one at a time, minus Naruto who just walked up the wall like it was a tree, and he got up there last. Everyone was spread out on the roof with Conner on the far right end and Debbie on the left.
Bruce went prone beside Buffy, who was next to Debbie, and Naruto took his position next to Jake.
Bruce checked his pack and then radioed everyone, "Get your magazines out and ready. Naruto be Jake's spotter and be ready to use your best jutsu in case I give you the signal. Give me thumbs up when you're ready."
Everyone pulled off packs, getting ready and ignoring the hot metal roof that made the heat worse as Conner set the SAW to one side, pulling his M-4 off his back. Bruce pulled out his binoculars, scanning the mob and the island.
Conner just stared at Bruce in disbelief, then turned to look back at the crowd. There were so many he could only pick out individuals on the outer edge. Looking back at Bruce as he studied the crowd through his binoculars, Conner wanted to say something but couldn't think of anything to say except to ask Bruce if he was insane. It would be just easier for Naruto just to blast away mob. Seeing everyone stacking magazines, Conner did the same with fear gripping his chest.
Scanning the mob, Bruce saw it eighty miles deep from the bank to the back edge and stretched over a hundred and fifty yards along the bank. Bruce was guessing the number was close to two thousand. Looking toward the island, he could not see all of it because of the houses along the bank. Looking back at the mob at the water's edge, Bruce noticed none were in water deeper than their ankles. Putting his binoculars in his pack, looked at everyone and they gave him the thumb up. Naruto even had a shadow clone on the other side of Jake in meditative stance. Naruto had told Bruce this was his way to gather nature chakra—which normally requires him sitting absolutely still—while he has to move at the same time, as Shadow clones can gather chakra and when destroyed, that chakra it gathers goes to Naruto.
Bruce called over the radio, "When we start, there will be no stopping until they're all gone or we somehow get overrun. Keep calm. When you see me fire, open up, and keep fire discipline. There're people on that island in front of this group, so watch your fire. The first two who empty half of their magazines call reload, and reload what you've shot so we don't all run out at the same time. If you copy, give me thumbs up." Bruce got thumbs up from everyone and raised his rifle.
Bruce sighted on a female blue that was probably pretty before turning blue. He slowly squeeze the trigger and watched her head explode. Then, the others opened up and kept firing at a steady rate. Moving his rifle from head to head and watching them disappear as he pulled the trigger. Bruce smiled.
Naruto raised his baretta, not being one to be left out, and focus wind chakra into the barrel and fired. There was a backfire that would normally break bones, but Naruto held his ground as an infected head exploded one hundred yards out. A range mostly known with rifles.
"What the heck Naruto?" Jake asked. "How did you get that kind of fire power from a pistol?"
"I focus wind chakra into the chamber." Naruto said. "Back home wind chakra is used to sharpen weapons, so I thought if I sharpen the bullets, it would cut through air resistance."
"In that case, you probably can get more distance with a pistol," Jake said, "But when did you learn how to do that?"
"I do more than run and exercise in the morning. I been figuring out the best way to use chakra with pistoles. First with shadow clones though incase of backfires and learned wind was the best with bullets and not to try fire or lightning." Naruto said, "I can even fire bullets made out of just air and water too, but after Stephanie's report, I decided against Blues to use wind infuse bullets."
Jake nodded, understanding why Naruto did it alone as it sounded like Naruto was experimenting with something possibly dangerous. It also explain what happened to Naruto's previous two pistols.
Naruto turned to Bruce and saw he was now looking jealous. Naruto guess Bruce saw Naruto's new technique.
Several in the mob turned to the sound of the suppressors but turned back toward the island. Naruto keyed his radio. "They don't see us."
"How the h- they not see us. We're in their sight range and this roof doesn't provide cover!" Bruce responded.
"How the heck am I supposed to know? I can only understand them, not see with their vision," Naruto responded.
Danny called reload first, followed by Jake. When Bruce put his fourteenth magazine, he looked out in front of the group toward the mob. Bodies were laying everywhere, stacked four to five high in places. They had picked the shots carefully now. Trees and houses along the lake edge were blocking their shots,
Looking around, Bruce figured there could not be more than sixty along the bank and behind obstacles. Bruce called everyone on the radio. "I'm reloading and heading to the dock. Danny and Naruto I want you two with me. Buffy, I want you to reload your magazines then move to each person and reload theirs. Jake, you are to cover me Naruto and Danny until we are on the water. Debbie and Conner keep killing. Any questions?" Bruce asked and did not receive any. He had expected argument from Buffy, but she just started to load magazines and smiled at him. He reloaded but put the ten extra magazines back in his pack and the others in his vest. turning around to get off the roof, he saw two infected come out of the woods. Before Bruce could pull up his rifle, Naruto raised his pistol and shot the infected with wind power bullets. Bruce waited with his rifle incase the infected had friends.
"Two just came out of the woods behind us. Keep an eye out," Bruce said.
"Bruce, at least forty have come out of the woods since we started shooting. They just run right by us to the mob," Debbie informed him. Connor reported the same thing on his end.
How the h- do they not see us? Bruce thought. He then called over the radio, sliding on his pack. "Buffy, you cover us when we get down; then get back to loading magazines. Debbie is in charge until we're back together."
Bruce slid off the roof and crouched down when he landed, burning his arm on the hot barrel of his rifle. Danny landed beside him, and Naruto walked down to the ground and crouched. Bruce led them to the boat house. Bruce stopped at the corner of the mobile home. What was left of the mob was to the left of it. The boat house was a hundred and twenty yards to the right. Not seeing anything between him and it, he took off running with Danny and Naruto hot on his heels.
When they were halfway there, Bruce heard a growl followed by Naruto's whistle. Bruce turned to his right and saw a runner coming at them full speed. Fear gripped Bruce as he turned toward it, raising his rifle when the blue's head exploded. The body collapsed, sliding across the asphalt toward them from its forward momentum. Bruce put his head down and ran like the devil himself was behind him. Naruto whistled as Bruce saw movement to his left. Bruce turned just in time to see another runner's head explode. As the body fell, it did a complete flip in the air and slid a foot before coming to a stop. They reached the boat house, Danny and Bruce out of breath, and they turned just to see two more runners drop.
Looking back in the boat house, Bruce saw a fourteen-foot aluminum boat on the dock. He walked up and saw two paddles inside. He Danny and Naruto picked it up and set it gently on the water. Bruce got in the back, as Danny got in the front and Naruto got in the middle, ready to jump off and run on top of the water if needed. Bruce grabbed a paddle and paddled out of the boathouse.
Out on the lake, they could see the island, and what was left of the mob could see them. The remaining infected ran toward them from behind the obstacles, but they were cut down by the group on the roof. Bruce watch in amazement as the numbers just melted on the shore as he paddled the two hundred yards to the island. Naruto nudge at Danny and Danny turned around and look at her father.
"Look at the other bank, Dad," she said. Six hundred yards away, he did not see what she was talking about. The trees ran up to the water edge. Then, he saw the infected moving between the trees. They lined the bank on the other side of the lake. Bruce started paddling faster in case they figured out to go around the lake.
"Good thing they're afraid of water, huh?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, good thing," Bruce said.
"Jake is one b- sniper, isn't he?" Danny asked, looking at the island.
"Yeah, he is. I thought the first one that slid toward us after he shot it had us," Bruce said.
"Dad, that one was the third one he had shot. You didn't even see the other two."
Bruce could not believe he had missed two. It might be time to raise Jake's allowance, Bruce thought as the boat hit the bank on the island.
"Be careful, you two. We don't know if the people here are friendly. Stay frosty," Bruce whispered. Danny and Naruto nodded as they jumped out of the boat, and pulled it further onto the bank. Only to find three teens—thirteen years old at least. One was a brown hair boy with round glasses, and the other was a girl with orange like hair stuck up in two ponytails, and the third one was a boy with dark hair that spiked upward. Each had a headband like Naruto's.
"Konohamaru? Moegi? Udon?" Naruto responded.
The spiky hair boye yes widened looking at Naruto. "Boss is that you?"
"Believe it!" Naruto said. "Danny Bruce, put your guns down. I know these three. They're from the same world as me."
The trio ran up to Naruto with Bruce and Danny letting their guns down, but the trio looked urgent.
"Thank goodness you're here, boss!" Konohamaru said. "We need you to come with us. We need help!"
"Where?" Naruto asked.
Konohamaru Moegi (the orange hair girl) and Udon (the other boy) led them forward through the trees. As Bruce moved forward, he swore he could hear a kid talking and another answer. He stopped to see if he could hear an adult, but didn't and moved closer. Then, he saw six kids sitting around a tree. There was a little girl no more than seven playing with a baby doll and talking to a boy who looked about nine.
They walked toward the kids. When they were less than fifteen yards away, the girl gave a little squeal and grabbed the baby doll to her chest. The little boy she was talking to turned around with a small knife.
"Relax Frank, these are buddies of ours," Konohamaru said. "This is the boss we were telling you about: Naruto, and with him are…"
Bruce held up his hands and said, "My name is Bruce, this here is my daughter Danielle, but we call her Danny." The little boy put himself in front of the kids, holding out his knife. Bruce looked closely at the kids. They all looked like skin and bones with sunken eyes. The little boy looked at Bruce.
"You are friends of Konohamaru?" Frank asked letting his knife down.
"Yeah we are." Naruto said.
Two little girls ran toward Bruce and latched on his legs. Looking down at them, Bruce saw they were identical twins around four but not far from being five years old.
The rest of the kids came over to them. When the little girl with the doll came over, Bruce froze. "Oh my God, that's a real baby," Bruce cried out, walking to the little girl. The baby was lying limply in the little girl's arms. The little girl turned away from him. "Little girl, I'm a nurse, and I help people. Please give me the baby," Bruce said in a kind but firm voice.
The little girl turned to Konohamaru who turned to Naruto, who nodded. The little girl slowly handed the baby to Bruce.
Bruce grabbed the baby, thinking it was already dead until Konohamaru said, "It's still alive, but barely. That's why we needed your help."
With that news, Bruce stripped the baby down. It was a boy about six to nine months old. He was breathing rapidly, not moving his arms or legs, lying like a rag doll and not opening his eyes. Bruce could tell the baby was dehydrated, in shock, and close to dying. Turning to the boy that had the knife, Bruce asked, "What's your name?"
"Frank," he replied, watching Bruce with the baby.
"Sit by me right here; everyone else sit around us. No one is to talk to me but Frank unless I talk to you. The baby is close to dying. Danny, take your pack off now, and give me your first aid kit. Then, start feeding the kids slowly. Water first but also give it slow. Naruto, I need you to find a stick that's as tall as Frank and bring it to me fast." Bruce dropped his pack, pulled out a blanket and his first aid pouch, then took off his gloves. He put the baby on the blanket and opened his pouch, getting IV supplies. Debbie called him over the radio.
"Are you three alright over there?" she asked.
"Can't talk now, a baby's dying in front of me," Bruce said, kneeling by the baby. Bruce wiped the baby's arm off with alcohol then put an IV in the bend of his little arm. The baby never even moved. That made Bruce real nervous. Then, he reached in his first aid bag and pulled out a small 250cc IV bag of normal saline. He hooked up the tubing to the bag then connected to the baby's IV. He held the bag up so that the fluid ran into the body as Naruto came back with a stick—sharpening one end with a kunai knife.
"I hope you don't mind, but I sharpened one," Naruto said handing it to Bruce.
"That's actually perfect," Bruce said as he shoved the pointed in into the ground and hung the IV bag from the top. Then, he turned to Frank. "Where are your parents?" Bruce asked looking at the skinny kid. Bruce grabbed a vial of dextrose from his kit. Doing some rough calculations, he grabbed a syringe.
"Don't know. Bad men shot at the bus we were on, and it crashed. The driver told Paul to take us and run after we wrecked," Frank replied, looking at Bruce with hope.
"An adult sent you out by yourself without anyone older than thirteen?" Bruce asked, looking at the kids and wondering which one was Paul as he drew up 10ccs of dextrose. Then, Bruce slowly pushed the dextrose in with the IV fluids.
"Paul's sixteen," Frank said with an angry expression.
"We weren't with them when the bus crashed. We just got here yesterday," Konohamaru said. "Took us a while to get the kids to trust us."
"What happened to Paul?" Naruto asked.
"A blue man bit him before he brought us here. He swam us over here and said he had to go and for us to wait here for him. He was going for help. He told me to protect everyone until he came back," Frank said with tears running down his cheeks. "When Konohamaru arrived, he took over as leader, but told me I can still protect everyone else."
"It was the least we could do after hearing what Paul did," Moegi said.
"She's right," Udon responded.
"How many days ago, Frank, was it that Paul left?" Bruce asked with tears running down his own face. Even Danny and Naruto were caught up in the emotion.
"Two days ago, and we saw Paul this morning. He was over there, and he was a blue monster," Frank said, pointing toward where the mob used to be.
"Frank, you're a great protector. We're the help Paul was looking for. We're going to take you to someplace safe, but we'll have to fight to get there. Do you know the names and how old everyone here is?" Bruce asked, and Frank nodded. Danny was still feeding the kids, breaking off small pieces of food for each one. "I want you to point to each one here and tell me their name and how old they are. Okay?" Bruce said, checking on the baby, who started to move around.
"This is Emily and Sherry; they are twins, and both four," Frank pointed at the two little girls who had run up to Bruce. "This is Nathan, and he's six. This is Robert, and he's seven. This is Alice, and she's seven, and I'm nine," Frank finished as Bruce watched the baby.
"What's the baby's name?" Bruce asked.
"Don't know," Frank said, shrugging.
"Aren't you family?" Naruto asked.
"No," Frank said.
"Where did you come from, and how did you get here?" Naruto asked.
"We went to the building the army men told us to. Then they said we had to leave and go to the mountains. We got on some school buses, and I think it was five days ago bad men shot our bus and it crashed," Frank said eating a piece of food Danny had given him. Then Danny lifted his shirt and felt over his body.
"He's not bitten, Danny. He doesn't carry any smell of the virus," Naruto said. A few days ago Naruto learned he can smell out the virus in people if they're bitten or the virus got in their body. It was a mixture of the person's original scent and the faint smell of infected in them, and as the virus spread through the body, the smell of infected got stronger.
"Just being safe," Danny responded.
"So the bus driver told Paul to get you kids and run. Someone just gave Paul a baby; then, Paul took off with you kids. On the way here, Paul was bitten by a blue monster. He led you here and swam each of you to this island. Then, he left and showed up this morning as a blue monster?" Bruce asked, trying to make sense of the child's story.
"Yep, but Paul did kill the blue monster after it bit him 'cause it was tryin' to get Sherry," Frank said, glad Bruce had finally got all his story. He ate more food.
Bruce looked at the baby, who was now awake and moving around. Half of the IV fluids were in as the baby started moving around kicking and cooing. Bruce figured the baby at fourteen pounds or six kilograms, and the 250cc was double the bolus he needed—Bruce new the baby needed it all. He opened one of his FSR pouches, taking one bar of food out, broke it in half, and hand the rest of it to Danny. He opened some gauze out of the first aid kit then picked the baby up in his arms. Wetting the gauze with water, Bruce wiped the baby's dry mouth out.
"Naruto, I want you to fly to the others and tell Debbie what's going on here. We need another thirty minutes before we can go. Danny, I want you to help the kids with anything they need while I help this baby." Bruce said as he bit off a piece of bar and chewed it up. The IV bag was empty, and Bruce clamped the tube. Taking some of the chewed food out of his mouth, Bruce put the paste in the baby's mouth. The baby started kicking and laughing, sucking his fingers.
Naruto meanwhile had transformed into a bat form, amazing and slightly and not scaring the kids.
"Konohamaru would use jutsus to entertain the kids," Moegi said. "They're use to it by now."
"Does the baby have a bottle?" Bruce asked, breaking the group from their daze.
"I'll get it," Alice said and ran to the tree. She pulled the bottle out of the only backpack he saw. "Here you go, Mr. Bruce," she said, handing it to him.
Bruce thanked her and opened the bottle to make sure it did not smell like spoiled milk. It smelled okay, so he put a little water in it and rinse it out then filled it up with water. Reaching in his pack, he took out a powdered sports drink mix and poured it in the bottle. The baby started pulling at his goatee as he finished. He took more of the chewed up bar out of his mouth and put it in the baby's which made him happy again. Bruce picked up the bottle, shaking it to dissolve the powder and put the nipple in the baby's mouth. The baby grabbed the bottle and started to slam the water down, sending huge bubbles up the bottle. The baby needed the electrolytes and sugar, but Bruce had to keep taking the bottle out of the baby's mouth so it would not get sick. This action really p- the baby off big time, and it cried until Bruce put the bottle back in its mouth.
"How did you three get here?" Bruce turned to the three thirteen year old shinobi.
"We don't know. We were all training when there was this bright flash and when it died, we were here," Udon said.
"We didn't have much food or water on us as we were planning to eat at the village when that flash happened," Konohamaru said.
Bruce found that weird, and almost similar to Naruto's story.
Naruto must have told Debbie what was going on, because at that moment Debbie came over the radio. "Bruce, baby, what do you need from me?" Debbie asked, and he could hear tears in her voice.
"I need you to cover us until I can get these kids ready to move. It shouldn't be longer," Bruce said, looking at the baby then at the kids.
"God as my witness, you take as long as you need. You will not be disturbed," Debbie said in a tone of determination that sent shivers up Bruce's spine making him proud. "Naruto is flying back with more food and water for the kids."
Bruce thanked her and then turned to Frank to ask, "Frank, did any of you drink out of the lake?" Bruce didn't asked about being bitten or scratch since Naruto already confirmed it before he left.
"No, Paul told us not to drink the water, and we gave the baby our last water this morning," Frank replied.
Bruce nodded as tears ran down his face. Bruce wished he could have saved Paul from his fate. A sixteen-year-old kid protected seven kids who he didn't know and led them to safety. Knowing he was infected, he took them to a safe place and left so he wouldn't hurt them then died alone. Although Stephanie confirmed that the Blues were alive, Bruce felt any life they might have had before the infection died when they turned—especially since the infected had no memory of their previous life. Bruce prayed to God to let Paul know the kids were okay.
Bruce could feel the anger building as the tears dried on his face. He took deep breaths, calming himself, refusing to release the rage when the kids need him.
At that moment Naruto landed on the beach, transformed back into human form.
"Bruce, I think your wife wanted to adopt all these kids after I told her about them," Naruto said, causing a shiver going down his back.
Not again, Bruce thought as he didn't want to go through having to accept another child into his family.
Bruce glanced at his watch and saw it was after five p.m.e t He told Danny and Naruto to get ready to go and call the kids around. He put the baby in Alice's arms as he cut the blanket down to make a sling so he could carry the baby across his chest. While he worked, he talked to the kids. "We are fixing to leave. It's too dangerous here; blue monsters are coming. We are going to your new home. If you see anything that scares you, don't yell or make noise because the monsters can hear real good. We can fight the monsters, but if you make noise, more will come, okay?" Bruce said as he tied the two ends of the sling together. He didn't want to mention running out of bullets, as they got Naruto, but there was still the risk of that.
All the kids told him okay except the twins; they just looked at him with wide eyes, standing at his side and holding his pants legs.
Looks like Debbie might get at least the twins and the baby, Naruto thought, trying to hide his smirk. That is, after she gets them away from Bruce.
Bruce took the baby from Alice and put it in the sling. Taking the IV out, Bruce put a band aid on the spot. He put everything back in his pack and grabbed several powdered drink mixes then put his pack on, telling Naruto he can feed the kids some more in the boat. Putting the empty baby bottle in his left thigh pocket with the drink mixes, Bruce looked around as he put his gloves back on. He told the kids to follow him and for Naruto to help guide Danny as she bring up the rear.
When they reached the boat, he radioed Debbie.
"We're coming back. Keep us covered," Bruce said as the last kid got on the boat with Naruto in it, helping the kids. He pushed the boat out to ankle deep water, then motioned Danny to get in. Then, he turned the boat with the back to him and pushed it out, climbing in.
"Take your time, baby. We haven't seen anything in twenty minutes," Debbie said as he was about to paddle.
"Dad, the blues are gone from the other side," Danny said.
Bruce looked and saw nothing in the far bank.
"Step back Bruce, I can take it from here," Naruto said as he climbed into the back and formed the Rasengan. Bruce was about to ask what Naruto was doing when Naruto slammed the Rasengan into the water, causing the boat to lurch forward like a speed boat with a sudden power boost.
Bruce managed to radioed Debbie. "Meet us at the boat house now," He said knowing something must be up for Naruto to do this all of the sudden. "We're goin' to have to move fast. I think we're about to have company, more than we have bullets for."
It took one more Rasengan but they reached the boat house, where the others were waiting on them. They helped the kids out of the boat. Bruce was the last one out as he tied the boat up just in case they needed it again. Danny was making introductions as Debbie came over to Bruce and looked at the baby with tears in her eyes.
"Bruce, what are we going to call him?" Debbie asked, holding the baby's hand. Although she already had a mental list of names she had saved from high school, she thought since Bruce saved the baby, Bruce should have the right to name him.
Bruce was looking at her playing with the baby and said, "He has a name, baby. It's Paul."
"I like it," Naruto said, "Although we'll have to figure out away to make sure people know which Paul we're talking about. Especially since we already have a Paul back at the land."
"We'll deal with it when the time comes," Debbie said, agreeing with the baby's first name be named after the teen that risked his life saving these kids.