Naruto Battle Network: Blue Wave V1
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Summary: This is an homage to one of my earliest passion. Years into the future, everything is operated via the internet, even as simple as the humble trash can or a park statue observing for crime. As a result cybercrime is on the rise. Luckily, netbattlers from all walks of life secure the cyberworld from all forms of threat. But one of them, Naruto Namikaze aspires to be the greatest netbattler the world has ever seen. Eventual SasuNaru
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A/N: Yes, I'm a little too late for the megaman battle network 20th anniversary. But this is my small contribution to what made my childhood one of the most memorable ones. (If you're not familiar, you can google the game "Megaman battle network" but I will try my best to introduce the world so prior knowledge of it isn't necessary to enjoy the story.) By the way, to those who know the game, much of my knowledge of the game is from mmbn3 as that's the game I played mostly.
Note: Much of the lore here will follow the games, some from the anime and a lot of my own headcanon so don't expect a complete replica of the games. That's why I don't think this qualifies as a cross-over, too, because a lot of the story will still borrow heavily from the Naruto world (albeit with some modifications).
With that out of the way, on with the story. I hope you'll enjoy this strange concoction that my tired and stressed brain has come up with.
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The year is now 3021.
Everything in the world is run through the internet. From the simple trash bots that patrol the streets to keep it clean, to the most elaborate data centers that govern space stations, much of the world is controlled through the internet- a fully digital and virtual space that arose from the union of every machine, computer and chip in every device that connects to it.
This space is wholly independent from any singular entity, organization or government. It is simply the natural evolution of Artificial Intelligence that took a life of its own as computing power progressed through leaps and bounds.
After the catastrophic war that ended the Otsutsuki's reign of terror, much of the elemental nations were able to set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal allowing technology to skyrocket.
The defeat of the Otsutsuki, the progenitor of chakra caused its use to slowly fade into the deep recess of history and along with it, the great ninja era ended; forgotten throughout the millennia as the great digital age dawned upon the new generations.
And thanks to the advances in the digital age, much of the processes that took man years or even decades can now be done in a matter of hours or days thanks in part to the various programs and machines that help run much of the world's current society.
Yet with all its wonders and glory, the internet is not without its perils. Just as the internet and its various connected programs help run the hospital, the military's robotic police and tanks or even the justice system of the current world, it is precisely this all-encompassing function that made the digital space that much of an attractive target for criminals and terrorists.
Yet criminals and terrorists are not the only threat to this wonderful piece of technology. Viruses, bugs and even malicious programs that arose from the deepest recesses of the web can pose a challenge to the programs and systems that made the network function.
And thanks to this, the net police made net-battling an important aspect of every citizen's lives. For in order to exist, everyone in the digital age must be a competent netbattler lest their homes, bank accounts or for some, their artificial hearts become a simple target for viruses and evil criminals. Due to this, special interactable programs are created. These programs are called netnavigators or netnavis or navis for short and they reside in their owner's PErsonal Terminal (or PETs), a handheld device that allows the owner to access the internet from as long as there is a transmission port that allows access from the real world to the digital world of the internet.
These navis are then able to perform tasks like searching the network for answers, perform calculations and operate machineries by controlling programs and more importantly, these navi perform the important task of fighting viruses, errant programs, bugs and other netnavis that might threaten the internet or their owner's devices or digital data.
This is precisely why the students of Konoha Academy are now on their trip to the foremost facility that is the center of network development in all of fire country- the SciLabs. In SciLabs, one can learn the most cutting age virus busting techniques and it is a great privilege to even be allowed in its very doors.
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"-ruto… Naruto…. NARUTO! Wake up! You're late for your field trip."
With a groan, a lazy hand reached for the orange PET that's now blinking and beeping wildly on its charging pod by the nightstand.
"Five more minutes please…" As the hand tried to reach for the orange PET in an attempt to silence the alarm, a loud siren erupted from the speakers on the PC over the far end of the room.
In an instant, a mop of unruly blond hair shot up from orange sheets as wide cerulean eyes angrily glared at the PET's screen.
" I'm up, I'm up already! Geez. Turn it off, Menma… Please! Ugh, my poor ears!"
The blond boy covered his ears at the screeching noise that assaulted his ears. As the siren stopped and the PC's monitor stopped blinking frantically, the face of his netnavi greeted him mischievously from his PET screen.
"My deepest apologies, Naru-chan. You did tell me last night to wake you up no matter what. I figured your desktop's speakers are loud enough. You can sleep through a storm and you know it."
A smirk graced the netnavi's face, his red eyes gleamed mischievously at his owner who glared indignantly, but playfully at the screen.
"Hey! I so can wake up on my own, Menma!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Naru-chan."
"And stop calling me that! I'm Naruto, damn it, future king of all netbattlers in Konoha!"
"Yeah, yeah. Now get up oh Naruto-sama, before they leave you behind… again." The navi's smirk widened as his spiky jet black hair swayed gracefully against his white helmet. The helmet had two "ears" protruding on its top with a spiral design on its center. As the navi shifted, the Uzumaki crest peeked slightly on his chest as the white fur on his black armor swayed.
"Damn it, Menma, I was late once! Once!" Naruto yelled as he quickly got himself dressed in black shirt and orange pants, tied an orange bandana on his forehead with the spiral symbol, the symbol of his mother's clan in bright red and black proudly imprinted on its center. This same symbol was also the one emblazoned on the crest on Menma's chest.
Donning his orange jacket, he quickly made his way for the kitchen where his mom was waiting, a reddish gleam on her eyes as her gaze was transfixed upon him.
"You're late young man! I've been trying to wake you up since six this morning!" Naruto gulped loudly as his mother's long red hair stood up in her anger, a ladle in her hand ready to smack him straight on the forehead.
"Maa, maa Kushina. Let the poor boy eat." His father was already donning his white lab coat as decorative reddish flames seemed to dance at the trim. "If worse comes to worst, we can always come together. I have a board meaning at SciLab later anyway."
"Certainly not! If he's late, HE's staying home. You will not coddle him Minato! Now hurry up Naruto or I will personally see to it that you will NOT be joining that field trip. Is that clear, young man?"
"Yes mother." Naruto softly replied knowing that there's no arguing with his mom if she's like this.
"Good." His mother's fiery form instantly mellowed down as a sweet smile graced her face. " Now eat your ramen or you're not leaving this house. Got it?"
In record time, Naruto devoured his bowl without an instant thought before rushing to the door.
"I'm on my way mom, dad!"
"Take care, Naruto!" His parents chorused as Naruto ran to the gates of Konoha Academy just in time to see the bus about to take off. Luckily, Iruka-sensei was still on the outside of the bus, though the glare on his face caused Naruto to pause.
"Heh, heh! Good morning Iruka-sensei! I'm not late am I?"
The teacher sighed and ushered him up to the bus.
"You're lucky I didn't leave you behind, Naruto! Now go take a seat. SciLab is still an hour away."
"Thanks sensei!" Naruto merely grinned widely against his teacher's frowning face before climbing up the bus, too excited about the trip to the famed SciLabs.
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A/N: And that's a wrap. I hope that didn't suck too badly. Just something to unfreeze my brain. Expect slower updates from me over the coming months. But I definitely won't leave my other stories abandoned.
