Yo! Yes, this is NOT a trick of the eyes! It is another chapter update! This one was already in the wings and I needed to make a small change to it. Found something, started typing, kept ON typing and now finished this chapter!

Took me a good six hours to edit and type, so I hope that this isn't badly typed up because my mind is sleep-addled. Anyway! Chapter Three! Read! Go! :P

~Chapter Three~
~Crafting is an Art Form!~

~Floor One: Town of Beginnings: Market Place~

"A-Ano, Naruto-kun? Are you sure this is a good idea?" Asuna asked shyly as she followed behind her newly made friend; the two of them making their way through the marketplace. Unlike the previous night, it was much quieter than it was due to to the players making use of the daytime and gone out into the areas to farm their levels. Naruto spun on his heel as he began to walk backwards from them while placing his hands behind his head. The two had decided to allow themselves two days off before grinding with Asuna to try and bump her levels up quickly so she could catch up.

"It can go both ways but it's something I kinda need to do." Naruto admitted, not really wanting to do this but knowing it would prove much better down the line if he did. "I asked Kirito a favor and he pointed me in a direction to find someone I can talk to about my problem." he commented, noticing the queer look he was getting from the rapier user. "My grandfather's student, Jiraiya, is known to be well-connected in the real world and he's often the one I go to to know about anything that concerns gossip and information on other people. It's the same with the game; 'Knowing the battle is half the battle won.' So he's sent me to an 'acquaintance' of his to try and work on taking a page form his book and get an information network up and running." he finished explaining, earning an impressed look from the light chestnut-haired woman as they continued to walk down.

The two of them found themselves walking past a few groups of players and received a few waves in greeting, returning them in kind. Naruto smiled as he saw the looks of determination that settled in their eyes as they decided to make use of this opportunity and do their best to help everyone exit this game. His heart went out to the people who had fallen into despair and had stopped trying in hopelessness. There had been a mass jump in the rate of suicide and around nine-hundred players found this too much and had committed the act, shutting down their bodies for real.

Shaking his head from the more morbid thoughts, he returned his gaze to Asuna; who kept giving him concerned glances. He smiled at the her and nodded, showing her he was okay. Turning back to the market place, the main lane was empty and several of the stalls were closed until later on that evening, leaving a few of the NPC's simply sitting down and lazing about until they have a customer to sell to. As they continued walking down, they noticed a slight gap in between two of the walls and noted a small figure who had perched themselves on a stack of crates that had been haphazardly dumped there. The figure was hooded and a heavy cloak covered their frame but the main things he could notice was the whisker marks and the small playful smile on her face as she lazily swung a leg off the boxes.

"Well what do we have here, sa~?" the feminine voice spoke up, cracking open one of her dark amber eyes and glanced down at them with interest. Her attention immediately zoned in on the blond male and his whiskered cheeks, similar to hers but not quite. "A couple of potential clients looking for some information, ne~?" she grinned playfully. Naruto quickly noted a fellow prankster in his midst and knew he could enjoy this a bit more than he thought he would. Shifting his pose a little, he looked up towards her with a glint in his eyes that had her grinning like mad.

"Well, a friend of mine told me you're the best at gathering information in this game. I hope he wasn't exaggerating about your credentials since I need someone who knows exactly what to do." Naruto baited, smirking as she widened her eyes before narrowing them slightly as a calculating glint appeared in her amber orbs. She deftly leaped down the boxes with practiced ease before standing on the last crate to level her height with his, noticing that she was looking into his eyes rather intensively.

"It depends on who this friend of yours is~" she responded in a sing-song voice.

"Kirito." Naruto smirked, noticing the slight anger in her eyes at the mention of the name and the low angry hiss that escaped through her clenched teeth. "Oh no. Not you too?" he rhetorically asked, earning a short growl from the petite blonde as she stomped her foot down and screamed.

"Of course it'd be that Kiri-baka! Nothing but a-" she fumed before Naruto interrupted her with a smile.

"Egotistical, nihilistic, narcissistic, unbearably sarcastic and the mother of all fuckwits to have ever have graced the world; both out there and in here?" he finished, earning a blank look from the new figure just before she burst out into uncontrolled laughter. She had to smile at him; one sentence and she likes him already! Holding her sides for a few moments as she continued to cry with laughter, Asuna took a few steps forward and poked Naruto in the shoulder.

"Urm, who's Kirito?" she asked.

"Kirito is a friend of mine and my sister back in real life. Despite being really handy when you desperately need him, everything I just said about him is him down to a tee." Naruto explained quickly. "You'll probably encounter him sooner than you think and you'll see just what we mean." he cautioned her, earning a giggle and a short nod. The two turned to a weak-kneed blonde as she wiped the tears from her eyes and tried regaining control of her body after the blond's comment. She chuckled a few more times before she regarded him with another grin on her face.

"Now that? That w as a good comment, sa~! I'll have to remember that one for next time." she complimented. "So what do you need?"

"I'd like to make a little... business proposition." he grinned, leaning slightly into her face. She paused before letting loose a loud guffaw before she narrowed the distance even closer between them; leaving only enough room between the two of them for a few inches. "Name's Naruto Uzumaki; part-time professional masseuse, seller of women's underwear and experienced card dealer."

"Argo, no last name; information-broker, full-time professional nymphomaniac-for-hire and taster of fine whiskeys." the now identified Argo grinned back at the impressive introduction as she cupped her chin with her hand. "So you've mentioned a business proposition, hmm~? What're you going to offer for my services?" she purred, licking her lips slightly and taking much enjoyment from the little back and forth teasing between the two.

Naruto had to admit that she could very well be telling the truth and he would later admit he had felt an attraction to his fellow blonde, seeing how good she was with the flirting. Releasing a rare charming grin, he closed the distance so that their noses were touching, causing the two of them to chuckle slightly at the boldness on each other. Naruto awaited the reaction he would get when he threw down the kicker.

"I want to be your official sponsor." Naruto grinned, stopping the girl in her tracks with a 'deer-caught-in-headlights' look. "I know the three main factors for a good information network; contacts, resources and money. So I'm willing to throw you some Col for a good cause, 'ttebayo." he teased as he lightly tapped her cheek before making a bit more distance between them.

For a few seconds, all silence prevailed in the area as the two women stood there in shock. Asuna was shocked he would want to sponsor someone, while Argo simply stood there in stunned silence as the words slowly sunk in and repeated itself in her head.

"M-My... sponsor?" she timidly asked, not believing it to be true. "Nice try, Whiskers, but as amazing as an opportunity that sounds-" She didn't receive a verbal response but she noted her trade menu open up and saw the figure of Col slowly rise from four digits... to five digits... to six. In that one moment, the near unbreakable and spunky Argo stood in shock at the generosity of the blond male before him.

That one moment her whole facade broke down as she leaped at the blond, who only just managed to catch her as he was almost bowled over by the flying tackle hug. Asuna stood stunned at the sudden move but her eyes softened when she saw that Argo had started crying with tears of joy in her eyes. She stayed in his arms for a few minutes before letting go and wiping her eyes; accepting the trade menu as she pocketed the four-hundred thousand Col straight into her inventory.

She wouldn't admit it to herself but she doubted he would have had any idea what it would take to set up a good information network; even harder in a game where your life balances on a mirror's edge. Yet she found herself stumped when he practically took her expectations and threw them out the window. He was right; setting up a good business was always difficult because you need a bargaining chip first, which gives you the information you need to sell to others and make a profit. For a man to come out of the blue and, not only wanting to sponsor her; he had even given her Col he had worked for just because he wanted to help her out.

Yes, there may be ulterior motives and he would want something in return but that's a given. Nothing in life is free. Nonetheless, her plans for getting the network up and running would come around much faster than it would've originally planned. And the fact that he did it? That had immediately put the blonde up there right at the top of people she trusted and majorly respected.

"This should be enough to get you going for now. Make the starting deals with contacts, gather some information on rare skills and quests and I'll even help you out with a few bits and bobs I've learned if it'll help you out." Naruto continued as he slowly took in the trembling form of the fellow blonde.

"I-I'd ask such a stupid question right now." she softly spoke as her glistening orbs stared back into his cerulean blue, "I'd ask if you were an angel because there's no-one I have ever met who would go out of their way to do something like this." Argo chuckled while wiping her tears away. "Consider yourself a friend for life, Ruto-kun~" she smiled, putting her grin back on her face, much brighter than before. Naruto returned it with a similar grin of his own. "I'm curious as to how you were able to get so much Col already. It's been, what? Two days?" she asked.

"Ah," Naruto chuckled as he knew this would be a kicker, "That would probably be my natural Uzumaki luck factor. Most recognizable would be Yoshika Uzumaki; being infamous for breaking two casinos in a matter of one hand of cards. Apparently, I've inherited his luck factor." he explained, earning a suspicious look from Argo.

"Prove it. What's your Luck stat on?" she asked. Naruto shrugged as he opened his stat page up and quickly scrolled down to find said stat and expand it for the blonde to see. "H-Hundred and fifteen!?" she cried out in shock from the absurd luck this guy must have! It scared her slightly as his luck stat will increase the higher his levels go up and find the most obscure and rare items in this game...

"Probably helped with my [Mug] skill as well. It's a combination of agility and luck for the move to hit off and steal an item from an enemy if it lands with a melee attack. the only stipulation for this is that it can only be used once on an enemy and it must be either the penultimate or last attack for it to work." Naruto explained, earning a quick confused look as Argo opened up the Ability Directory and noticed that [Mug] had been made a semi-exclusive move, credited for by Naruto Uzumaki.

"That sounds like a handy skill, sa~!" Argo grinned. "An Original Skill as well! This goes to show that you are just full of-" she started before she paused. "Wait a second. Why is it I can smell fox?" Argo pondered loudly, sniffing the air slightly before finding her attention turned to a slightly nervous Naruto. "You've got to be kidding me." she smiled with amusement clear in her voice as Naruto's shoulders slumped in defeat. "C'mon, this will be strictly confidential." she promised him, holding her pinky out.

"You show me yours and I'll show you mine." he responded, not taking no for an answer. Argo simply laughed as she slowly removed her cloak and revealed herself properly for the first time. She stood in a rather revealing armor that left a lot of her legs on show; a white pad around her right thigh and a mixture of olive green and blue cloth that criss-crossed over her leg.

Her top half had an olive green 'x' going over her bust area, hiding her boobs, while draped over the top with a blue material that was similar to a shawl. Over her right shoulder was a shoulder drape that fell over her arm. Her hair was fully on show; revealing a similar shaggy style blonde that Naruto had. Asuna found herself looking on in confusion of the conversation and simply settled to what was going to happen.

He shook his head as he wrapped his pinky with hers before his features made themselves known. Unlike normal fox-ears, his had changed slightly so that the ears were slightly longer and had black streaks running across an gold background, similar to that of a fennec fox. The main thing that shocked her was his tail...

... no wait; tails. As in all nine of them.

"Ohmygod! Your tails are sooooo fluffy~!" Argo purred as she took it to rubbing her face in the magnificence that was Naruto's bundle of tails. Naruto simply chuckled before he retracted his features, yelping slightly when a few fur strands were yanked out of his tail. "These will actually sell well, ya know?" Argo provided, noting that they had already been integrated into the game's inventory list; [Kyūbi's Blesséd Fur]. Naruto rubbed his lower back as he willed the pain to fade. "These would be really good to make some really good gear later on when you come across someone with a high-enough Sewing skill." she mentioned.

"Why don't you take it up?" Asuna spoke up, bringing attention to her. "I-I mean it'd make sense; you have something to work on when you're not managing the network and you develop another steady source of income that'll help you sustain the funding and you can also make deals with certain people and offer a discount for information and to pass them on to you." she suggested as she trailed off near the end due to her shyness, earning two approving nods and smiles from the duo-blondes.

"That's a pretty good shout, Asuna-chan." Naruto complimented her, winning a smile from her.

"I know another player who's looking to make her Weaver her main class and she's already on five-hundred in terms of mastery." Argo let loose a small tidbit, earning two pairs of shocked eyes in response. "I know. I'm thinking of keeping these for her to use but... the idea of a craft class does have merit, sa~" she trailed off as she send a glance to Asuna, silently appraising her for her ingenious idea.

"Naruto-kun? Why do you have an animal form?" Asuna spoke up, confused to the current revelation that her latest friend had the ability to transform into a half-kitsune. She understood that the whiskers on his face made him look like a fox so she knew he had a strong affiliation with them but... it didn't explain this.

"I honestly have no idea. I only discovered this by accident yesterday evening in the shower and I wanted to keep it a secret for a little while longer." he explained, giving a pointed stare to Argo who had the decency to chuckle with a sheepish expression and a hand behind her head. "It surprised me as well but I'm getting the feeling that we're gonna be targeted for all these rare abilities of ours and knowing the current stigma placed on the Beta's..." he trailed off, noting a slight wince coming from Argo.

"Asuna-chan?" he called out, earning the brunette's attention, "D'you wanna grab a bite to eat with me and Argo? I'll pay for the three of us." he offered.

"Oh, Ruto-kun~! Inviting lil' ol' me out to dinner, sa~? Tempting me with food so you can easily have you way with me, ne~?" she seductively purred as she pressed herself close to him. He simply winked before lightly tapping her forehead with his fingers. "Mou~" she cutely pouted. "I wouldn't refuse you, ya know~?" she grinned with a slight lick of her lips.

"Now-now, Argo-chan. I'll be giving you a little scope on my abilities and the juicy gossip I've come across; I'm stripping myself bare for you to see everything of me and make you a very happy woman~!" he lowly growled, sending a shiver up her spine from how sexy his voice sounded right then. Regardless, she was still a woman and one with needs; and his voice was sending very pleasant sensations through her body. Asuna was openly blushing as the mental images going through her head were that of mature-rated images and she had to press her hand to her nose to stem the blood from escaping.

She closed the distance once more, smiling at his widened eyes when she had gotten close enough for their hips to touch and her boobs to mash against his, slightly. Her eyes widened slightly at the monster she could feel near her groin and smirked devilishly as she slowly shook her dirtier thought out her head before she lost herself.

"Be careful. One of these days I may lose my self-restraint and take you up on that offer~ goodness knows I'm already there~" she grinned lustfully with a small wink as her fingers crawled up his chest, earning a laugh from both blondes. 'I honestly think that this is the start of a beautiful relationship.' the info-broker thought to herself as she slowly pushed him back with her hand and grabbed a seat. "Lay it on me, Ruto-kun~!"

The two paused at hearing a strangled squeal from next to them, only to panic at the sight of Asuna bleeding from her nose. Naruto was about to make a comment before he stopped for a few seconds. Argo and Asuna both watched him for his reaction before noticing a predatory grin appear on his face.

"Ne, does Asuna-chan have ecchi thoughts of me and Argo-chan? Does Asuna-chan want to join us as we make wet and steamy love to one another? Or does Asuna-chan want Argo-chan for herself and me as a side-dish, hmm?" he teased mercilessly to her and driving the nail home as steam poured out of her ears and caused her to faint. He managed to catch her before falling; all the while, Argo was in tears once more at his blunt statements and impressive flirting skills. She found him refreshing as not many people could handle her 'nympho-side' but seeing him take that in stride and reply to it in form... it was wonderful.

'A beautiful relationship, indeed, sa~!'

~SAO:AC~

~Floor One: Horunka Village~

While the three of them were enjoying each other's company in the marketplace, Lisbeth found herself walking towards her personal destination with confidence shining in her eyes as she quickly picked up the pace. She had heard from a few of the NPC's about a special kind of quest that was only available for crafting classes and quickly made her way towards the small stand that would be the beginning point of said quest.

"Hello there!" she smiled brightly, earning the attention of the female NPC that looked up at her.

"Hello! How may I help you today?" she asked in response.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could help you out." Lisbeth smiled as she shifted her weight onto her right leg and placed her hand on her hip in a confident pose. She grinned mentally when she saw a quest-marker pop up in front of her.

"Well, now that you mention it... if it's not too much trouble, I want to ask you if you could make some wares for me to sell." she explained as her eyes simmered down lightly. "I-I've been trying to run this shop to make money for my grandfather as he needs Col for an operation on his eyes. He only has a few weeks left before he passes the point of no return and becomes fully blind..." she trailed off as unshed tears glistened in her copper orbs. She looked up in shock when she found a hand softly placed on her shoulder.

"I'm sure I can help you out. Buuuut..." she trailed off, thinking of an ingenious idea to get an answer to a question she's been asking for a while. "Is it okay if I bring someone along to help me with this?" she asked, earning a shocked look from the NPC but chuckled inwardly when her copper orbs lit up in hope.

"I-If you can, then of course! Neither of you will go unrewarded as I will teach you both everything I know about managing your own shop and a skill to help you both with your sales!" she replied with a soft smile on her face. Lisbeth nodded with a grin as she smacked her fist in her palm.

"Yosh! How much will you need?" she asked.

"It depends on what your crafts are. If you bring your friend with you, then we can go from there." the NPC replied with tears. Lisbeth simply nodded as she opened up her menu and sent a quick message to the only person she had on her friend's list. "Are you sure about this person, miss?" she asked, curious as to why she asked for the additional help.

"Give him time but I'm sure he'll be here soon. If my initial judgement of him is right, then he'll be just the person you'll need." Lisbeth winked in response, finding herself (nicely) surprised in just how much faith she had in him.

~SAO:AC~

~Floor One: Town of Beginnings: Restaurant~

"... and, of course, he storms off after cursing me out for landing the [Mug] attack and storms off after finding out that her weapon was better than his!" Naruto chuckled as he retold the story of his dungeon run yesterday, earning two bursts of laughter from the two women sitting with him in the same booth in which Asuna and he were in yesterday evening.

"O-Oh!" Argo laughed as she held her sides, crying with laughter from the story, "I would've paid to have taken a photo of his face!" she commented freely. Asuna wasn't fairing much better as she giggled with tears in her eyes as well, knowing and understanding the frustration he would've felt. Naruto shook his head as he chuckled before looking into his fellow blonde's eyes once more.

"Hang around with me long enough and you'll have all the chances you'd like!" he commented with a fanged grin, making her pay attention to him once more as she found her arousal spiking once more.

"With Kiri-bou... or with you, sa~?" she whispered as she leaned in closer to his face. Asuna shook her head at the broker's attempt at flirting but was secretly annoyed at how open and how pressing she was about trying to bed the handsome blond. With that thought, she froze at just how honest she was being with herself.

"Asuna-chan? You alright?" Naruto asked, concerned for her as he noticed her locking up in her seat. Her golden orbs found themselves looking into the deepest pair of cerulean that left her momentarily mesmerized as she spaced out. She snapped back when Naruto snapped his fingers and shook her head.

"I-I'm fine! I just spaced out!" she trailed off, glancing away from him. He frowned from the action but found himself halted from making any reaction when his inbox notification appeared. The small 'ding' alerted the other two girls as to what was going on as he opened up his messages, surprised to find out that it came from Lisbeth.

Sender: Lisbeth

Re: Quest help!

Hey, Whiskers! I had a source tell me about a crafting quest that leads to a pretty nifty skill for crafting classes and I was wondering if you'd like to tag along and help out! There's some good rewards here and I heard there's a 'Limited Skill' up for grabs as well!

Remembering your Luck stat, I'm hoping we can kill two birds with one stone as we can quickly grind our levels up and also get a hefty bonus for good work!

And I finally get to see your crafting class! Mwahahaha!

Liz~

"A crafting quest, sa~?" Argo perked up, intrigued by the sudden find. "I haven't heard of one until now so it may either be a new addition to the game or it's something that's escape my notice, sa~" she trailed off with an odd-gleam in her eyes, one Naruto knew all too-well. "I suppose I shall have to find a crafting skill pretty quickly if I want to make the most of this." she quipped playfully.

Asuna paused for a moment as she had been planning to take up Culinarian and raise her skill in that, so it would allow her to make food in the game for her friends and also make foods with buffs for when they're out fighting. She nodded as she found things falling nicely into place from this and quickly turned to face the sole male of the trio. "Naruto, could I come and help as well? I may not have much skill but I'm looking to level my cooking skill up and..." she trailed off, losing confidence.

"Of course!" Naruto beamed as he grinned at her, making her look up to him. In that moment, Asuna found all her fears washing away as she basked in his 'aura' that screamed warmth and encouragement. She soon found herself not wanting to disappoint the faith he was placing in her and wanted to do the very best she could. Argo also felt the 'aura' about him and she found herself mesmerized by it, knowing that he would make a great leader-figure in the game. He quickly opened up his messages menu and sent a quick reply back to her before closing the menu down.

"That then leaves the question of what your crafting class is, Naruto-kun." Asuna playfully nudged Naruto, earning a mock pout that sent the two into giggles. He didn't last long as he chuckled alongside them as well.

"I haven't told Liz because she was so persistent on finding out what I've chosen." he commented with a small playful grin. "I've taken up the Goldsmith crafting class, allowing me to make accessories and charms for people to equip." he smiled, earning an awed look from Asuna and an impressed look from Argo.

"Geez, Ruto-kun, you've really thought this game through. Not even a week in and you've taken to the game like a true vet." Argo complimented with her respect for him increasing for his foresight into matters. She was worried that it would come back to bite him on the ass from how much pressure he was putting on himself but she believed that he wouldn't do so much if he couldn't handle it.

"Well, what can I say?" he shrugged. "I understand that people will be looking for gear as the fights get progressively harder and people with Col will spend it on the latest items and the best stat-boosting gear they can, without leaving them short." he explained, drawing the two's attention on him once more. "While overlooked, I know that I can get good enough to add effects to them that will fit any kind of scenario that players will face. That is what people will pay handsomely for." he smirked.

"... and I thought my respect for you couldn't get any higher." Argo simply grinned as she looked straight into his cerulean eyes. "Simply amazing, sa~!"

"Incredible..." Asuna whispered out as she took in all he had spoken about, finding herself amazed at the insight he had into things. She admired people who were hard-workers and she could see the desire to help everyone get out of this game within his eyes, and she would believe that he would be the one to lead everyone to freedom and back to the real world. He chuckled sheepishly as a hand reached to the back of his neck and lightly scratched it, a nervous habit of his as he was unaccustomed to taking praise well.

"Well, shall we grab a bite before seeing what this quest is about?" Naruto perked up, earning two rumbling sounds from the women as his response. Just in time as three large platters of food appeared before them all. The three stared down the food like rabid animals, quickly shouting 'Itadakimasu' before making short work of the food in front of them.

~SAO:AC~

(Time Skip: Horunka Village)

Lisbeth found herself annoyed as she slumped down on the crate she was sitting on, her chin resting on her palm as she patiently waited for him to arrive. She had sent the invitation to him because she thought it would help him out but she soon discovered that it may have just been better to do it herself and reap the rewards for herself. She let out a huff before her thoughts were broken out by a voice she knew quite well...

"Liz!"

She turned her head to find the unmissable blond-spiked hair walking towards her, releasing a smile she didn't realize she was wearing as she made her way to meet him in the middle. Her curiosity spiked when she realized he wasn't on his own but her instincts kicked in when she realized that they were women. Feeling uncharacteristically possessive, she leaped up to him and quickly grabbed his right arm and smashed it into her chest as she looked up to him with a grin on her face.

"Took you long enough, Whiskers!" she chided lightly. "You made me wait an hour for you!"

"I did tell you we were in the middle of eating when you sent the message. Not only that, you were rather... vague on directions." Naruto deadpanned as he slowly pried his arm out of her chest, hiding his blush from how soft her chest felt. He blushed lightly at the thought and quickly shook his head. Unfortunately, Lisbeth had seen it and mentally smirked.

"Ara ara? Did you enjoy that, Na-ru-to-kun~?" she playfully sang as she leaned in close to him. She was shocked to find herself staring into a pair of amber eyes that held a dangerous glint to them.

"Yo, Ruto-kun? How about some introductions to your friend, sa~?" she asked sweetly. Too sweetly. Naruto knew he was in a dangerous situation and knew he would likely get the brunt of the damage, so he sighed in defeat as he glanced to Asuna giving him a weak smile and shrug in response.

"Argo, this is Lisbeth. She's the girl who ran with me yesterday and is also the blacksmith to be I told you about. Liz, this is Argo and Asuna. Argo is an information broker in the game and Asuna is someone I met yesterday in an alley." he commented, finding himself face-planting the floor thanks to a hit on the back of his head.

"B-Baka!" Asuna squeaked in embarrassment. "Don't make it out to be so sketchy!" she moaned as she hid her face. Liz simply grinned at the two of them but found herself weary of the blonde in front of her and decided to let it be... for now.

"Ara ara, it's just Naruto's charm and natural idiocy I guess." Liz waved off, earning giggles from the two girls there.

"Oh sure! I do y'all a favour and this is how I'm repaid?" he grumble with a rain cloud over his head, drawing circles into the digital earth beneath him. The three girls continued to giggle before notifications popped up for the three newcomers:

*Lisbeth has sent you a party invite! Accept/Decline?*

The three of them clicked on the accept button as the party list came up in their peripheral vision, listing all of their names and what levels they currently were. Asuna was only a level six but was still impressive for a girl who had been running on no sleep or food for the past few days. Lisbeth had gained a level, now sitting on level ten. Naruto was next up as he sat on an impressive twelve...

But the three of them were shocked to find Argo already sitting on level fifteen. Naruto quickly clicked on as to why and simply chuckled, earning the attention of the three women with him. Waving the matter off, he turned to Lisbeth and grinned to her. "Well then, lead the way, Mistress!"

"Oh, bite me! That nickname will be the death of me." Lisbeth grumbled in response as she quickly snapped her head back to the NPC who had been watching the interaction with amusement in her eyes as her soft tinkling laugh sounded. The NPC quickly took note of Naruto and paused for a split second before smiling once more.

~Mission difficulty increased!~

The three women paused and chose a moment to stare at an uncomfortable Naruto who whistled innocently while looking anywhere but at the three. He 'noticed' their stares and simply shrugged in a 'what-can-I-do' motion. "Part of the deal." he bluntly commented, earning three sighs before they turned back to the NPC.

"So we have a blacksmith, a culinarian, a goldsmith and a leatherworker, hmm?" she commented, earning some startled looks from them all as they turned to one another. "Quite a diverse group we have but it will be a good variety of wares to make and sell. As there's so many of you, I want to give you all something to help with your crafitng classes on top of the reward I promised you." she smiled as she bowed politely to the four of them.

~Quest! - One Good Turn...~

Help out the young woman by making one-hundred sale-quality items to help raise money for her grandfather's operation!

Reward (per item): 200 Col
Quest Reward: +5 Skill Points, 5000 Col, [Marketing] Perk, [Eye For Quality] Perk, [Bartering] Skill, Crafter's Charm+1

"One-hundred items!?" the four of them yelled out in shock, seeing the requirements for the quest. Normally, it wouldn't have been so bad if it was just making something and handing it in. Making something of a sale-worthy quality meant that it needed to be of a high standard in itself. While they grumbled about the increase of difficulty, they didn't mind the bonuses to the mission nor the rewards they'd get in return.

"I-I suppose we can split the list up between us." Asuna softly spoke before her voice grew more confident. "We need to make a hundred items; so with the four of us, we can split that down to twenty-five items each. If we make it, we'll be looking at a nice ten-thousand Col each!" she smiled, earning approving nods from the other three party members.

"Alright. Seeing as we need to make sale-quality items, I would suggest sticking with things that will prove slightly challenging to make but still be within capability to sell it. Quality over quantity is needed here." Lisbeth commented, earning more nods from the group.

"Ano, I don't have much in terms of materials to make things from..." Asuna quietly mumbled, embarrassed from the lack of preparation. She noted her trade menu pop up in front of her and several ingredients being sent to her from the sole male of the group. She turned to look at him and simply won a smile as her answer. She shook her head in defeat, smiling all the while, as she accepted the meats and honeycombs she had been given and began working on making something edible to sell.

So the four of them sat down in a square formation as they tried to make stuff passable to sell...

Keyword being 'tried'.

Naruto had attempted to make a simple ring but what he imagined and what came out were two completely different things, altogether. Instead of a solid ring, he had produced a rather crude lump of metal that vaguely resembled a ring... if it could be called that. Argo was no better as she tried making a small leather pouch but promptly fell apart upon lifting it up by the handle. Asuna was even worse as she produced a jar of...

Well, something.

Honey was never meant to be green in colour, anyways.

Lisbeth sighed as she feared this would happen. She knew that it was something to take up a craft but it was another thing to be able to craft something decent and not just a shabby, two-minute quickie that passes as usable. She halted them all and told them to put everything down as she sat down in front of them.

"It's admirable you guys doing this with me, and I'm thankful for the help..." she trailed off, earning smiles from the three of them. "But you all suck!" she finished, earning three vaults as the three fell over comically with their legs sprawled in the air. "You guys need to understand that there is much more to crafting than banging something together nilly-willy and hoping for it to be any good!" she explained, smiling when she had four pairs of eyes on her.

"When you make something, there's three things you need to remember:" she began, bringing up her index finger. "First. Every movement you make should be an extension of yourself. Don't think of it as just crafting, think of it in a way that suits you. A dance, a fight, a flowing movement that feels completely natural with your body." she began her lesson as her second finger joined her first.

"Second. You use the materials you have but you fail to understand the value of the material! While virtual, it's still a loss of life or something taken from the virtual world. Every material has meaning and it has value. When you craft, remember that each ingredient was made and/or given. Whether naturally made or taken from something after its death." she looked at Asuna as she lowered her head in thought.

"Each stone you hold. Each jewel you'll use. It was taken from the rocks you stand on; from the Earth. Pay your respect to the Earth and be thankful for what you are using and bring honour to the Earth with what you make." Liz smiled softly at Naruto, who's eyes had widened slightly. What made her happy was the cogs turning inside his eyes as she could see it clicking and falling in place.

"Every piece of hide or skin had come from something that was alive. A life had been taken for you to use what you have in front of you and it's up to you to give thanks and honour to that which had died so that it would be made into something worthy of the life taken!" she turned to Argo and found the blonde woman looking at her with a small smile and a hint of respect in her eyes. Nodding, she lifted her ring finger to finish her lesson.

"Third. The most important thing is to pour your emotion into everything you make! This girl want items so that she could save her grandfather's eyesight! Pour your determination into every swing, every slice, every cut! Make no wasted movements and let the finished product tell the story of how it came to be and let it show the effort and emotion put into making it!" she finished, letting loose unbidden tears as she shuddered from the sheer emotion in her own words.

Asuna, Naruto and Argo couldn't help but feel a rush of energy tingle throughout them as they took the blacksmith's words to heart and found themselves gaining a new respect for their crafts and also for the materials they use. They all noted that they had gained a new skill; [Crafter's Gratitude], which greatly improves the quality of an item and can only be used as the finishing skill. The three of them took the words to heart and nodded to Lisbeth as the four of them began crafting once more, putting her words into practice.

The young woman behind the store soon found her eyes widening in shock at the sudden change of skill and gasped at how well they were making the items she asked for! She could feel it! The emotion! The thankfulness! The glow that seemed to come off each and every item they made! She soon cried tears of joy as she realized that it was thanks to the brunette that they were performing so well!

Asuna took the words spoken to heart as she thanked the lives of each boar that died to give her the meat. Thanking the bees for the honey she was making. She noted that the smell was much more potent than before and that she could taste the improvement as her first jar of [Gold Honey] came out in a pure gold colour. Her first piece of [Tender Boar Steak] had left her own mouth watering; feeling the smile of the boar which lost its life to make this steak. Asuna found herself crying tears of joy as she made it her goal to thank everything she would use.

Naruto was in the same boat as his chestnut-haired companion; every tap was placed in great detail, not straining against his movements but flowing with it. He gave thanks to the earth for the materials and poured his will to help the woman out into each stroke. He had completed his first item and he had impressed himself at just how beautiful it looked to be; a [Silver Necklace] which had a +2 rating, much to the shock of everyone there. Liz looked at him with pride in her eyes as it simply spurred him to keep up the quality and make many more, while giving thanks for the materials.

Argo closed her eyes as she felt her arm go with the flow of her body as her knife cut the leather with great care and precision, also paying respects to the life lost for this piece of leather. She grinned when she felt her emotions getting the better of her as she finished her craft with a flourish, producing a sturdy and fashionable [Leather Pouch] to turn in. Seeing the drastic change, she vowed to make something for Lisbeth as a thank-you for the advice given.

Every swing of her hammer, every tap made to shape the metal beneath her; it all showed her pride and her confidence rising as she noted the sudden improvement in the others' skills and it shone through her crafts. Thankful that she made a difference, it showed through her work as she produced a [Steel Sword +2] and, determined, carried on to make more to fill her quota.

They kept the effort going for another two hours as the last item was finished; Asuna wiped her forehead for sweat as she looked down at the items she had made. She had made a total of ten jars of [Gold Honey], ten jars of [Strawberry Jam] and five [Tender Boar Steaks]. She couldn't believe that she had made all these items as she could now understand Lisbeth's words as she felt her effort radiate back at her and she smiled warmly as tears came back.

Naruto grinned as he looked down at his list of items; making five [Silver Necklaces] switching between +1 and +2's, five [Luck Charms] which all had a small portion of Naruto's natural luck flowing through them, five [Silver Bracelets] and ten [Silver Rings], all switching between +1 and +2's, with two exceptions as they came out as +3's. Liz smiled as his Luck had come through for him again as she noted how beautiful they all were.

Argo stretched from her place on the floor as she took note of everything she had made; ten pairs of [Leather Sandals], ten pairs of [Leather Gloves] with two pairs being +1's, and five [Leather Pouches] that allowed a quick-access to ten items that could be stored within.

Lisbeth had been busy herself as she placed the last of her items on the wooden board that served as the counter; ten [Steel Swords] that ranged from normal to +2's, ten [Steel Daggers] again ranging up to +2's and five [Steel Longswords] that had one coming out as a +3 as well.

The NPC at the counter couldn't hold back the tears as she openly cried in joy as she looked at the items through bleary eyes, noting how each item had a story to tell and just how much care was put into making them. She quickly ran into the middle of the four of them and brought them all into a group hug, none of which complained as they held the hug for a few minutes while trying to console the woman.

"T-Thank you so much...!" she whispered gratefully as she wiped the last of her tears away and turned to face them all with a warm smile. "These are much more than I expected and I am in your debt! As a thank you, I'd like to double your reward for your efforts! Every item I see here... people will be rushing to buy them and I have you four to thank!" she smiled brightly while bowing once more.

~Quest Complete!~

EXP: +50,000
Col: +10,000

Items: +10 Skill Points, [Marketing] Perk, [Eye For Quality] Perk, [Bartering] Skill,[Crafter's Charm+3]!

"Alright!/Yatta!/Whooo!/Yosh!" the four of the yelled in unison as the celebrated their first quest and learned an important lesson from this in terms of their crafting skill. They smiled as they all knew they had made a difference and would help her grandfather with his operation, and felt the urge to only get better. The extra items were awesome, no doubt, but they all knew that Lisbeth was the main reason that they had gotten so good.

Asuna, Naruto and Argo (unknowingly) all had the same idea in mind as they all decided to walk back to the Town of Beginnings and turn in for the day.

~SAO:AC~

~Floor One: Town of Beginnings: Inn~

Lisbeth sighed blissfully as she felt the hot water travel down her body and onto the shower floor beneath her, releasing the tension in her body after a rather emotional day of crafting. A warm smile came to her face as she remembered the quest and simply astounded herself that her words would result in such a change in everyone's crafting skill. She lowered her head as the memories of her father came to mind, telling her the exact same thing to her when she was a little girl.

'Thank you, daddy. I managed to do to others the same that you did to me all those years ago.' she thought with a fond smile on her face as she ran the shampoo through her head and allowed her fingers to run deep in her brunette hair. She paused as she wondered whether she would be able to dye it in game and where to get the dye from... but shook it off as she continued to shower.

Naruto had invited Argo and Asuna to his room and we currently find the three of them at work, crafting. The three of them were shocked that they all had the same idea in mind but they all knew that they would still be struggling if it wasn't for her words, so they decided to show their thanks by making something for her to use. Argo's Enhanced Hearing perk came in useful as her head tilted up for a second before a smirk appeared on her face.

"Seems like she's finished her shower, sa~!" she commented as she went back to the last bit of her craft before finishing with another little flourish. Asuna giggled as she poured the contents of the frying pan into a dish, revealing a mouthwatering plate of [Honey-Glazed Steak] with a few homemade wedges and salad garnish.

"Good! Just in time as well! She can enjoy her food while it's hot." Asuna smiled as she placed the frying pan into the sink to wash later. "How's it coming, Naruto-kun?" she asked, knowing that he was working on a four-piece set but it would be attuned to boost her crafting stats.

"Seems that my luck is really pulling through for me here... aha!" he grinned triumphantly as he finished his last item. Setting the final piece down alongside the other pieces of the set, the three of them grabbed them and placed them all in their complimentary pouches. Courtesy of one Argo. The three soon made their way downstairs and quickly walked to Lisbeth's door. Asuna walked forward and softly knock on it a few times, waiting for the response.

"Hello?" Lisbeth's voice called out from the other side of the door.

"Liz-chan! It's me, Naruto-kun and Argo! Is this a bad time?" she asked politely. A few moments passed before the door opened, revealing Lisbeth in a simple tube top and skirt as they noted her drying her hair.

"Not at all! Come in!" she moved to the side and smiled as the three of them made themselves comfortable. "So what's up?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"We wanted to say thank you for everything you said to us earlier. We wouldn't have been able to finish that quest without you, Liz-chan." Naruto grinned foxily at her, making her blush faintly in response before a grin appeared on her face as well.

"Aw shucks, Whiskers! You sure know how to make a girl feel good, don't cha?" she commented, earning a chuckle from the blond in response as he scratched his neck. Lisbeth noted that he was doing that whenever he felt embarrassed and couldn't understand why he was so uncomfortable with accepting praise.

"Well, the three of us decided to show you our thanks by giving you something each of us made." he continued with a warmer smile as the three of them opened up their quick-inventories and clicked on the items. Argo was first as she pulled out a pair of white-dyed [Leather Gloves of Crafting+2] and a pair of [Leather Boots of Crafting+1] and placed them on the table in front of her.

Naruto smiled as he went next and moved closer to Lisbeth, noting the blush return on her face on how close he was to her. She could smell his scent, a mixture of lemongrass, sandalwood and the muskiness of his sweat and natural testosterone and it was making her head rush. He pulled out a matching pair of [Silver Rings of Crafting+4], surprising her on just how he had managed to make a +4 item before remembering his Luck stat. She felt him take her left hand and gently placed the ring on her index finger, before switching to her right hand and repeating the action.

She lifted her hands to admire the items and quickly used her [Appraisal] skill on them, noting that it each ring gave a twelve-percent bonus to her crafting stats. She then noticed that he was standing behind her before she saw a glint pass downwards over her eyes and gasped when she felt something rest on her chest, noting it was a [Ruby Necklace].

"W-Where did you manage to find a ruby from!?" she squeaked out in shock. Naruto smiled as he continued to give her her last gift, deciding to humour her.

"By complete accident and luck, I suppose." he smirked when he made a small nip in her earlobes, earning a jump from the girl before she felt something go through the newly-made piercings in her ears. "I unlocked a skill called Desynthesis, which allows me to take something and reduce it to it's base materials. I... desynthed my [Forest Guardian's Ring+3] from the dungeon yesterday and I managed to salvage a decent chunk of ruby from it, alongside a nice chunk of diamond and cerulean. So I used the ruby for your necklace because it reminded me of your eyes..." he trailed off as he finished clasping the silver earringdin her ears and turned around to face her.

She was floored by his explanation and she felt a tad guilty that he would give up a good piece of equipment and used one of the items for her. Despite that, she was touched that he put thought into his gift and blushed when he mentioned the ruby reminding him of her eyes and she let loose a small smile. Her nose went into overdrive as she smelled something amazing and noted the steak in front of her, courtesy of Asuna.

She shook her head but failing to stop the tears as she rose up from her seat and walked over to Asuna and pulled her into a soft hug, one which the rapier-user returned. She then broke off and made to hug Argo before Argo playfully ducked the attempt before finding herself in a headlock and her blonde mop being tussled by her hand. The two laughed at one another as her gaze settled on Naruto.

She felt her heart beat a little faster as the two locked eyes on one another as he grinned, squinting his eyes to give him a fox-like appearance. "I didn't know what else to give you but I know you wanted to make a difference with your crafting, so I hope the things I made you will help you fulfill your goal." he finished explaining as he stared into her eyes again.

And just like that, her heart began racing at the thoughtfulness and support he was showing her in her goal. She quickly found her respect for him rising and, dare she admit it, she felt a small flutter in her heart as she could imagine him being perfect boyfriend material. She shocked herself and everyone else in the room as she pulled him into a tight hug before reaching up and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. She pulled back to see the blush on his face and noted how cute he looked right there.

"Thank you so much, Naruto-kun. I will cherish these, always." she whispered softly with emotion thick in her voice. She gave him one last squeeze before the two broke apart. "Thank you all. I don't know what to say..." she confessed as she giggled softly with embarrassment. The three looked on with soft smiles as the four of them decided to spend a little more time with one another before turning in early for the night and recover from the day's events.

~SAO:AC~

(En'ō no Yama no Chōjō: Dojo of the Monkey King)

"Again!"

He watched on as his student ran through her forms once more. He noted the sweat flying off her body and the ragged breaths she was taking just to keep up with the speed of her attacks and her momentum. Amber eyes that glazed over slightly from her exhaustion setting clearly in her face but soon hardened in determination as she moved even faster than before. He allowed a small upward turn of his lips when he saw her push further than her body was comfortable with, proud of her keeping to her word about her resolve.

She knew her body was rebelling against her, she knew her lungs were protesting for a moment of rest and her head needed water before she fainted from dizziness. Yet she never caved into those impulsed as the years of training her body were stretched to their limits with every movement she made. She was shocked when he had told her he would be training her in a weapon and further shocked when he had given her a naginata to use; similar to his bō staff but a fundamental difference as she also had a blade at her disposal. She kept her eyes closed as she used her senses to maintain her awareness and her balance; feeling the flow of energy through her and the pounding of her heart against her rib cage as she moved.

She moved gracefully, almost like she was dancing across the floor and her weapon being her dance partner; a dance that was both dazzling and deadly in the hands of an expert, yet her lack of experience did nothing to lower the standard as she took to the weapon like she was meant to wield one. She gracefully twirled on her spot as she span the naginata in her hand before bending forward to an incredible angle as the naginata sailed over her back like a helicopter rotor, before spinning it in her hands and jumping into the air to allow it to complete its dance as it span underneath her feet.

She span a few more times before picking up a small sound coming from her right, allowing her instincts to kick in as her arms moved to intercept the incoming projectile with an upward slash. Her eyes snapped open as the small rubber ball split into half and skimmed past both her cheeks, staring straight into Hiruzen's aged orbs with a ferocity that would be found on a wolf. Her stance was solid and still ready to defend from all sides, her feet in perfect distance from each other to move any direction, her grip giving her the option to attack or defend with little effort.

The only sound that broke the silence was the harsh panting that came from the redhead's throat as she allowed her heart to gulp in the air and allow her body to recover from pushing herself beyond her limits. Hiruzen broke out into a smile and nodded his head in acceptance.

"Excellent. To think that you would pick up the first Dance in a matter of a week... simply incredible by anyone's standards, my dear Kazuko-chan." Hiruzen smiled warmly at her as she lowered her weapon and bowed to him respectfully, earning one in return.

"Arigatou, Sarutobi-sensei." she smiled, despite her body's protests.

"... he means a lot to you, doesn't he?" Hiruzen asked, surprised on how much she's willing to go to protect and save her surrogate-brother. She simply looked at him and he immediately noticed the look of longing in her eyes and the gaze that showed him just how much she loved him, beyond the borders of a sibling relation. "You truly love him, don't you?" he asked, noting she closed her eyes.

"Hai, jiji. I know I shouldn't have these feelings for him but..." she trailed off as she rested her right hand over her heart. "I can't stop these feelings anymore. I truly love him, jiji, and I won't let him leave me until he knows how much I love him, even if he doesn't feel the same way about me." she finished strongly as her amber eyes held tears as they softened.

"You would be surprised, my dear." Hiruzen chuckled before shaking his head. "Cool yourself down and make sure to properly stretch before making your way to the baths. Try not to fall asleep in them, Kazuko-chan." he wryly grinned, earning a huff from the redhead as she lowered herself onto the floor and reached down to her feet. She slowly stretched her legs out a little as she gathered her body again and slowly calm her body down, thinking about Naruto as she did so. She felt a small tingle coming from where her heart was and she was filled with joy and pride, wondering where it came from. She closed her eyes as she felt a deep feeling of thanks for something and...

She gasped when she felt concern... concern for her.

'H-How... how am I feeling this?' she asked herself as she switched legs. She paused for a moment before an idea struck her and she tried sending a feeling back, wondering if he would feel it...

~SAO:AC~

~Floor One: Town of Beginnings: Inn~

"... so we ended up in the middle of the public paddling pool, nothing but our birthday suits on our bodies as everyone turns to stare at us; the women were looking at me as if I was a piece of meat and I knew we were in deep trouble if we didn't get out soon. I turn to Kiba and I whispered, 'Never again am I letting you talk me into skinny-dipping with you.' and then shoved him forward as a meat shield while I bombed it out of there!" he finished, earning a loud burst of laughter from the three women he was currently sitting with as they wiped their eyes. Naruto began laughing before he paused for a split moment, feeling something foreign. The girls noticed the sudden pause in the laughter and grew concerned for him.

"A-Are you okay, Naruto-kun?" Liz spoke up, trying to reign her laughter under control. Naruto paused for a second before he felt a joy of relief and love coming from somewhere. His eyes snapped open before tears softly fell from his sparking eyes. "N-Naruto!?"

"I-I'm fine." he smiled as tears continued. "I-I'm more than fine. I now know my Kazu-chan is safe and she's worried for me but thankful I'm safe." she smiled as he cried for his sister.

"K-Kazu-chan?" Asuna squeaked, dreading if she was someone close to him in real life.

"Hai, my adopted sister." he explained, unknowingly easing their fears. "I-I don't even know how this is possible but she... I can feel her telling me to keep safe and to wait for her." he explained, shaking his head with a warm smile on his face. The girls noticed this and they simply smiled as well, adoring how much he's caring for his sister.

"What does she mean, 'wait for her'?" Lisbeth asked.

"I didn't buy one NerveGear the day of the release, I managed to buy two. I ended up giving her the second game as a means for us both to enjoy something apart from our training and enjoy ourselves with this game." he explained, earning jaw-drops from Argo and Lisbeth. "I know she has the final one as there was only nine-thousand and ninety-nine names n the Monument of Life; and I know that since I've counted them all and prayed for every single name." he explained, earning some soft looks from the three girls as they were shocked that this meant so much to the blond. "As for Kazu-chan? She's the ten-thousandth player and she's preparing herself before she starts this game." he smiled warmly, feeling nothing but love from her.

"Then we'll just have to make sure she has a brother to come to, sa~!" Argo grinned. The two girls followed up as they raised their hands into the air, allowing Naruto to smile warmly at the all, making the three of them blush at just how heartfelt it was and how charming it made him look.

"Hai!" Naruto agreed with a grin on his face. 'I'll stay safe, Kazu-chan. I'll be waiting for you.'

~Chapter End!~

Phew! Quarter to seven in the morning and spent all night typing this up. Bleh. X3

Now, I should mention a few things to clarify what's happening in terms of the harems for both Naruto and Kirito. These are the lists and they will NOT be edited nor changed. These decisions are final.

Naruto's harem: Asuna, Lisbeth, Argo, Kazuko, Philia.

Kirito's harem: Suguha (Leafa), Sinon, Silica, Sachi. (Damn, Kirito loves the S's...) ;)

As for those who may be curious about the crafting classes, then I implemented a few from Final Fantasy. I know it's unusual to focus on but crafting is a rather handy way to make income in the game and even more so if a craft could mean life and death. So while it won't be a main feature, the four of them will have the crafts to earn money on the side and to upgrade their gear and stats. Next chapter should be another group quest, a sticky situation, nosebleeds, boobs and a little surprise... ehehehe! *wags tails*

Edit: 01/11/18

Some more updates about changing the story to fit with the removal of the SCP's. Also; deciding to keep Naruto's fox form for a reason that wil be divulged much later on in the story. Also added some new tidbits into the story and some added lines for characters to fill the conversations out more.

Edit: 16/07/19

Again... more format edits. xD

Anyway, I'm utterly pooped and I need sleep. Enjoy the chapter while... I... doze... zzzzz... zzzzz... X3