Started on April 15, 2019| Philippines| 20:44 hours
Rated M for Mature.
Warning: Naruto-centric.
IMPORTANT: The cover image I'm using belongs to it's rightful owner. I make no profit out of it (NO SHIT).
ALSO IMPORTANT: Killzone reference will be present because they look badass. Who? You'll see. Oh, wait… you really want me to spill? Okay, Helghast. Happy?
ALSO IMPORTANT AGAIN:
Fourth wall breaking is present. You've been warned. Trust me. Or not. Got scolded a few times before cause I apparently didn't do some good fourth wall breaking so hope I improved it now. Tell me how I did on this department. Dunno if I'll do it again anyway.
Legio X: Rebuild My Legion
Naruto watches the forest from the back hood of one of the two humvees that arrived outside his last known location. Currently they are traveling to a location Naruto told them about, a place where they can find men and supplies to replenish, to rebuild their legion.
A man in the humvee Naruto is on opens his window and asks in a muffled tone as he and the rest still have their gasmask on, "So, how long do you think until we get there?"
The blonde man looks down at him with a raised brow. It was here that the man finally noticed his whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks.
"Those are some cool birthmarks by the way."
Naruto smiles. "Thanks. That aside, to answer your question?" He looks to the sky and is glad to see that the sun has yet to reach its peak, granted, when he got out of the building he honestly could not tell due to the smoke around him. He looks back at the man and says, "a few hours."
"Hey Scipio! Something's up ahead!" The gunner calls out. A short muffled reply of "I see it" later and the humvees slows to a halt. Naruto turns his head in curiosity and what greets him is a sight he's only seen once before.
"What the fuck is that?" One of the men ask.
Naruto's eyes narrow. "Everyone stay inside." He orders as he drops down from the hood of the humvee and puts out his hand. "Gun." He says while his Spatha hangs on his left hip.
Scipio rolls down his window and hands Naruto a suppressed SCAR along with two extra mags.
The blonde man takes them and walks over to what made them stop; piles upon piles of decaying and mutilated bodies blocking the road. "Cortana, any idea what these are?"
"If I had to guess? I'd say they're the ones that didn't turn and died due to being half-eaten alive."
"My thoughts exactly, but why pile them up here?" Naruto muses before turning to the forests around him. "I've only seen this once before… let's get out of here." He says as he heads back to the others. Once reaching them, he says, "I want you prepared for any bandit attacks. We can't go into the forests. Bandits could be hiding there, or infected, and it's an unnecessary risk."
"So what do you suggest we do?" One of the men asks no one in particular.
"Blow it up." Scipio says with his stern face while his eyes change into their trademark three-tomoe sharingan. "I'll keep watch around the forest."
Two men nod and head off to set the charges while Naruto looks at the Uchiha in fascination. "I thought no one could unlock the sharingan anymore."
"It's a rare thing now…"
"I see." Naruto says in acknowledgement. He didn't have to push his questioning now; there would be a time and place for questions later.
"Charges are set." One of the two who went to set the charges says as he and the other one enter their humvee.
The blonde and the Uchiha nod with the blonde getting on the humvee he was on and the Uchiha rolling up his window.
"Once you blow up the charges, I want us heading to the other side as safely as possible while also going as fast as we can. I don't want any surprises." Naruto orders before looking at the Uchiha and nods. "NOW!"
BOOM!
The explosion was quick. The two humvees take off just in time to hear small arms fire from the forests.
"Don't worry sir, these vehicles are bulletproof." One man says with a smile as he watches from his closed window as bullets bounce off harmlessly.
"But not explosion-proof!" Naruto shouts and points to the treeline on the right. "RPG!"
The Uchiha's eyes widen before he swerves the vehicle out of the explosion's radius of destruction. The other humvee, however, is not as lucky. In the rear view mirror, the Uchiha sees that the humvee capsizes and flips throwing the machine gunner off.
"Don't look back and keep driving!" Naruto orders before he hears a thump and turns to see the machine gunner's body go limp. With a grunt, he throws the man off before taking over and he starts shooting. With every fifth round being a tracer round, Naruto manages to adjust his aim accordingly and takes down at least twenty bandits judging by the screams.
"Dammit!" The Uchiha shouts. His teeth are clenched while he steps on the gas and keeps his gear high.
"No wonder there were no infected roaming around." One of the other men says while rolling down his window. He pokes his head out to see how Naruto is doing and sees that the blonde man is using the SCAR instead of the 50 cal and switches from left to right and back to make sure there were no longer any nasty surprises.
"What's your name?" Naruto asks as he glances down at the man who poked his head out.
"They call me Kiba, sir. Kiba Inuzuka's the name."
"Inuzuka? From the tracker clan?"
"Well, yeah but… it's not much of a clan anymore." The man says.
"Remove your gasmask." Naruto orders while still keeping and eye out. "The virus never evolved into an airborne strain."
"No sir, but in case any infected come in close, I'm not that proficient in killing it to a point where blood won't get in my eyes or mouth."
Naruto glances down at him and raises a brow. "Who in your unit has been given the vaccine?"
"Only Sir Uchiha here, sir." Kiba replies before putting his head back in.
Naruto gives a 'tsk' before muttering in a whisper, "Cortana, any chance we can reproduce the vaccine by using my blood?"
"Only if we have have the machines to do so where we're heading. Why?"
"You've read the files my father uploaded, did you not?"
"Some files were only sent to your brain. I still don't have permission to access them."
"I'm giving you permission."
"It doesn't-"
"Try it."
"Woah… okay, wow. You're not an AI, how did you do that?"
"Part cyborg. I was… let's just say a human experiment when I was far younger. The ninth of nine, and surprisingly all nine of us survived. Unfortunately, anyone else the program was tried on was unsuccessful."
Cortana kept silent but Naruto saw her in deep thought before going to work on the files he allowed her access to.
The rest of the ride was silent. They were all on high alert because of what happened, but they knew that it was their fault for being far too lax earlier. It had cost them men, men they badly needed in their Legion. Nothing could change that loss.
Time passes and an old rundown warehouse comes into view from the humvee's stand point. The trees still surround the warehouse, granted, further than on those that suck close t the roads.
"Damn… it looks like a fucking bomb went off." Kiba says as he and the four others get out the humvee.
"It's still here." Naruto says with a smile.
"It looks caved in though." One of the four remaining soldiers say.
"That's the idea." Naruto replies as he strides to the front door. He opens it to show that instead of leading to the inside of the warehouse, it was a door that lead to stairs that headed down under ground.
"Woah…" Kiba says before he is smacked on the head by the Uchiha who follows after the blonde. "Asshole," the Inuzuka mutters.
The Uchiha simply shakes his head and continues to follow the blonde.
"Who's the best shot here?" Naruto asks as he stops right at the top of the stairs.
"That would be Neji." Kiba says.
Naruto turns and faces them before asking, "is he a Hyuuga?"
The man in question steps forward and places his right fist on his chest just above his heart. "Sir."
"Good, come here.." Naruto motions him with a wave of his hand. "See that tower over there at the back?" Neji nods allowing Naruto to continue. "Good. Set up a sniping position there." He turns to the only other person who he still knows nothing of. "And you? What are you good at?"
"Close-quarters combat sir, although they say I'm not too shabby with guns too." The last man replies.
Kiba nods. "It's true. Lee here is the best among all I've seen fight in close-quarters. Aside from sir Uchiha here at-"
"Scipio, Kiba." The Uchiha says. "I gave up my name a long time ago to become Scipio."
Naruto shakes his head. "I don't have time for this. As far as I'm concerned, Scipio was always a Nara. Speaking of which, what happened to Shikaku?"
The Uchiha looks at him with a grim look. "His last position in Russia went dark a few days ago. We sent five search teams to his last known location but… we've yet to receive word on any update…"
Naruto nods. "Okay, Lee?" He looks to the man who was motioned as Lee. "Stick with Neji. You take care of any infected that might get too close. The only way up hat tower is through the back and inside the warehouse. There is a possibility that some infected are inside. I trust both of you to make it up there and keep a lookout. Don't die on me."
Neji and Lee salute him with fists to their chests before they jog to the back.
"Kiba, stand guard here." Naruto says and raises his hand when he sees the man about to protest. "How old are you?"
"Fifteen… so are they actually." He says with a grumbling breath knowing where this was going.
Naruto nods. "Good. So am I. We all have responsibilities, regardless. Our communications won't work so," he motions to the wall on the inside an shows Kiba an intercom. "This is what can get us up-to-date on what's going on out here. This would have been easier with the other humvee, or if the gunner didn't get shot, but they're dead. It got a lot harder, but trust me." Here Naruto smiles. "Once I'm done here, we won't ever have to worry about lacking manpower again."
Kiba raises a brow. How could this… supposed Caesar of his know that with certainty?
Naruto turns and drags the Uchiha along with a tap on the shoulder. "You, you're coming with me. We have things to discuss on the way down."
The Uchiha nods with understanding.
As the two make their way down leaving the three to guard the top, Naruto mutters something under his breath allowing for a dim set of lights to light the way down the stairs before he continues on and speaks. "This will be a long walk, so I might as well ask what I can now."
"Understandable. What would you like to know?"
"As you are aware, Itachi Uchiha was the Uchiha closest to my father. He was trusted to a point where I called him brother."
"I am aware of that. I am guessing you are going to ask if he is alive?"
"Correct, but also where he is regardless."
"I see. Then yes, he is alive, but is currently seeking to restore the Second Legion."
"The Second Legion? How damaged is it?"
"Far better off than we are. They were stationed in Germany. They replaced the GSG 9 and were steadily gaining members from local applicants, some few foreign ones, but after a distress signal sent out from them, Itachi was sent along with the first cohort of of the Seventh Legion which was stationed France."
"The first cohort? 800 men?"
"Yes sir. When we were still affiliated with the UNSCD, we called them battalions."
"I know, and when we were betrayed, we went with the style of the Romans when Augustus Caesar was emperor."
"Yes, indeed. Though I must admit, sir, I find it intriguing that history seems to be repeating itself"
Naruto nods. "I can understand where you're coming from, on why my cousin was the first Caesar, and was betrayed, is that right?"
"Yes sir."
"And on how I am the supposed second Caesar through his will, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Then let me ask, who among you is willing to follow me simply because of a will?"
"Sir?"
"Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus was the adopted son of Gaius Julius Caesar. Do you honestly think men would simply follow him for being Caesar's successor when he was a nobody when compared to Mark Anthony, or even Julius Caesar?"
"No sir."
"Indeed, and people followed because he proved his worth to them. He proved himself, and let me tell you now, until I prove myself capable, I dare you never to call me Caesar unless you pledge your utmost loyalty to me."
"I shall ponder upon your words sir. If that is what you wish, then I shall see if I shall indeed pledge my loyalty to you."
"Good man." Naruto says casually before he stops. "What do you know of Project Cortana?" He asks before he continues his walk down the ever descending stairs.
"Project Cortana, sir?"
"Yes, Project Cortana."
"Not much. I simply heard it was some sort of new AI project. Why?"
"That's good. That means you may be in for a surprise."
"I don't understand."
"I don't expect you to. Simply inquiring upon the things the outside world knows. I, for example, know that I've been on ice for nearly three months. I must congratulate the legions for holding out for as long as they have without my cousin."
"Is that a compliment sir?"
"Take it as you will."
"Very well… may I ask a question sir?"
"Speak freely."
"Why… how… I thought you were more outgoing and happy than what you're showing me now."
"Ah, yes, that does tend to happen from time to time especially after a ton of things get uploaded into your head."
"Uploaded?"
Naruto pauses. "What do you know of Project Jinchuriki?"
"Sir?"
"Did you even hear of Project Jinchuriki?"
"No…"
"I see, guess I'll have to save that line of questioning for someone else then." He says before continuing on down the stairs.
"Sir, how much longer? It is getting rather disturbing to see that this passage is yet to end."
"That may be so, but this is the only immediate access to the rooms I require. Anywhere else and we'll have a horde surrounding us."
"Uh…"
"Let me put it this way. Around us, right now, are walls separating us from the rest of the underground complex. Only the last three levels have been untouched which is good. Those are the levels that matter most."
"How… how would you know that sir?"
"Project Cortana was an AI project that was special above all others. It did not matter who, where, or the motives of the scientists. We needed an AI far superior than any other that was made or could be made. There were risks of some computer scientists sabotaging the code, so of course, we went through extreme measures to create the perfect AI. It came to the point were we had our own men working with the scientists. It put pressure on them even though we told them not to rush simply because each man we had with them… well… you'll see when we get to the bottom."
"I don't-"
"Speaking of which, we're here." Naruto says and stops before knocking on the wall to his right twice and the further stairs bellow him rise up and create a flat floor before the wall to his right slides open. "Any further and you'd have fallen through to an empty pocket of darkness before the heat surrounding you would cook you slowly if you didn't hit the bedrock bellow first."
The Uchiha swallows his spit and follows Naruto through to the hidden room. What greets him shocks him to no end. "These are-"
"Indeed."
===== On the surface outside the complex =====
Neji's eyes narrow as he notices a sudden change in the atmosphere. At first he could not place it, but then Kiba asks over the radio, "I uh… guys? You hear something?"
Lee who is beside Neji replies, "I don't."
Neji's eyes widen in realization. "Exactly. Everyone, guns ready." He says and watches the trees before muffled screams echo. At first they were unclear, but as the rustling of leaves can be heard, they get clearer and clearer.
"Help me!"
"End this! Please!"
"RUN!"
"Kill me!"
"Virals! Kiba! Virals!" Neji shouts in horror to his radio while preparing his SCAR and attaching a scope.
"How did they get here?!" Lee asks in horror as he also prepares his SCAR with an ACOG sight.
"Probably due to that last firefight we had with that ambush." Neji grunts out in annoyance before keeping his sights on the treeline surrounding the rundown warehouse.
With Kiba, the Inuzuka rushes to the door and all but punches the intercom. "Sir! Virals!"
Only seconds pass before the reply comes out calmly. "Good man. Go to the tower with Neji and Lee. Also, make sure to shut the door. Hold out for as long as you can, Inuzuka. I don't want anymore of my men to die, are we clear?"Naruto says from the other side of the intercom.
"Yes sir!" Kiba says before he closes the door and rushes to meet the others.
Neji and Lee see Kiba heading for them and nod. Seconds later, the first viral comes into view.
BANG!
Neji takes the shot and the Viral's head bursts as the standard issue anti-tank rounds of the Legions do their work.
"That's oddly satisfying." He mutters to himself before taking aim at another Viral.
BANG!
Another clean kill as Kiba finally makes it up.
"Kiba, what about the ammo in the humvee?" Lee asks as he takes a shot at another angle where another Viral appears.
"Too risky. I almost didn't even make it!" Kiba says as he aims down another angle allowing the three to cover a full 360 view of the tower they were now in. "No offense Neji. I know you can cover me, but I don't want to take unnecessary risks."
"None taken." Neji says before firing off another shot. "Keep to single-shots only. Don't waste ammunition." He says calmly before firing another.
Lee and Kiba nod in agreement. Not to mention, they only have ten extra magazines to spare.
The fire shot after shot as more Virals make a dash for their tower.
"I don't think I'll have enough ammo after this guys." Kiba says as he fires four consecutive shots only to take out three. "Tsk! What the fuck happened with the world?!"
"Less talking, more shooting." Neji says calmly as he fires off five rounds, each making their mark.
Lee pauses and concentrates on the treeline in his line of sight and his eyes widen.
In a burst of speed, twenty Virals burst from the treeline followed by more, and more, and much, much more. "Guys! I think we have a problem!"
Neji looks over and his eyes widen in horror. What was once twenty soon became forty, sixty, a hundred and their numbers just kept on climbing.
"I don't think we'll last." Lee says as he takes aim now with shaky hands.
"Then let's give them hell!" Kiba says before throwing a grenade to the horde. It explodes making tiny metal pellets rain down on some Virals killing at least ten while crippling five others. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!" He shouts before throwing five more grenades… leaving him with none left.
"Dammit…" Neji says as he looks on in horror as the Virals start to climb. "This was a suicide mission after all."
"I say give 'em Hell!" Kiba says before aiming at the ones closest to reaching the tower and firing. "DAMMIT NEJI! LEE! I NEED YOUR FUCKING HELP!"
Lee nods before patting Neji on the shoulder. "Might as well take out as many as we can, yeah?"
With a sad smile and a resigned sigh, Neji nods before the veins to his eyes bulge. He takes aim as Lee starts joining Kiba's firing. Neji takes a breath, and with that breath, he fires. Click, click, click, click, click, Neji pulls on the trigger faster and faster making his clip runs dry, each round taking out one Viral. He removes it and throws it to one Viral's head making it stumble only for its head to be blown up as Neji fires another shot from another magazine.
Then all the Virals stop.
FVRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!
A war horn bellows from one of the further surrounding mountains.
FVRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHH!
Another from a different direction.
FVRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHH!
Again, a war horn sounds, but this last one seemed far louder and closer than the previous two.
The door that leads down to the basement rattles turning the attention of the Virals towards it. It rattles more and the three in the tower can only watch with the fear as firing a shot could turn the attention of the Virals back towards them.
The Virals growl like animals as they start to gather around the door but something keeps them from blocking it, or even going nearer, as if their instinct tells them to be weary.
There is a tense silence that follows as the door remains quiet, yet the Virals do not move. Clearly they are expecting something, and then…
BANG!
The door flies off it hinges.
===== Earlier underground =====
"Indeed." Naruto replies as a soft blue glow comes from in front of them.
"But… how?" The Uchiha manages to get out as Naruto steps forward.
"I know all about you, Shisui Uchiha." The blonde says as he walks towards the glow. "You were the first successful candidate of Project Helghast. There were others, of course…" Naruto stops at a blue glowing tube the size of a man. "But none could compare to you and me." He says before looking into the tube as a man with pale skin and short blonde hair floats inside with a respirator over his mouth and nose. "We were the best. No one could compare to us, yet you chose to have them clear you from the project. They tried to get Itachi, but he refused. I'm sure you must have told him. They tried many more, failures of course, before my father asked me to take your place."
Shisui can do nothing but follow the blonde with his eyes.
"I accepted, naturally, wanting to please my father." Naruto continues as he looks into the tube to see another just like the first. "I'm sure the reason you didn't accept was because you feared that the Legions, at that the UNSCD, wanted an army of super soldiers. You always have this thing where you hate it when a person or group has too much power. I respect you for that, but look at them now." Naruto says motioning to all the other tubes across the room.
Shisui follows and nods. "They are… your clones."
Naruto nods. "They are, but they are also more. They are my soldiers. They will follow my every word, loyal only to me and me alone. They will follow me into hell should I ask them."
"Loyalty? I call that madness." Shisui says as he walks up to one of the other clones. "This is what you meant when you said that we would no longer need to worry about our lack of manpower?"
Naruto walks up to him and taps him the shoulder. "Correct." He then motions for the man to follow deeper into the room were more clones rest inside tubes.
"This is… admittedly amazing. I see… forty rows but the columns on each side seem to stretch on forever." He says with a hint of awe in his voice.
Naruto nods before a blare on the intercom interrupts his stride.
"Sir! Virals!"
Naruto taps his wrist and says, "Good man. Go to the tower with Neji and Lee. Also, make sure to shut the door. Hold out for as long as you can, Inuzuka. I don't want anymore of my men to die, are we clear?"
"Yes sir!"
Shisui looks at the blonde in anticipation. "So we'll go there to help, right?"
"Soon. We have more to do. Come, we can't delay any more than we already have." The blonde replies before making a quick stride towards the other end of the room and the Uchiha tries to keep pace.
They take only two minutes to reach the end of the room, yet Shisui can only stare in awe as Naruto works on lines upon lines of binary code after reaching the computer. It starts out in one window only before two more pop out and the blonde works on a specialized keyboard that translates his input into binary codes before the windows vanish and a message appears.
"Welcome, Naruto Namikaze. Please state your designation."
Naruto smiles. "Naruto Namikaze, designation, Caesar Augustus."
"Welcome, Caesar. Your Legion awaits."
With those words, the room lights up fully as the blue glow vanishes as the ceiling lights shower the room in a bright white light. The sound of pressurized air being released can be heard as the liquid in the tanks are drained and the men in them open their eyes and turn to face their original.
"Caesar." They say through their respirators as the glasses of the tubes are raised. "We await your command."
Shisui felt fear. For the first time in a long time he felt fear. Their voices were muffled and rough, robotic even, and when they spoke together, it gave off the impression that they were indeed legions, but not the legions of Rome. No, it gave off the impression that they were the legions of hell, often spoken in demonology.
"Get dressed men." Naruto says as he looks at the entire room. "The Tenth Legion will rise once again."
With those words, the Helghast Legionaries raise their arms to the sides as mechanical arms extend from the ceiling, The arms carry with them helmets, vests, arm guards, shin guards, boots, a special set of inner clothing, and black military long coats.
"Sir…" Shisui starts as the arms start putting the gear onto the men. "If I may, why do they look like those SS soldiers of World War Two?"
Naruto raises a brow at him. "Shisui, take away that historical context for a minute and what do you see?"
"Soldiers…"
"And they are loyal to who?"
"You, Naruto…"
"And am I a Hitler?"
"Uh…"
"The answer to that is no. I am not Hitler." The blonde then motions to the soldiers who are given a red arm band with the words "Legio X" on it. "I am Augustus. I am Caesar. And as much as I respect Julius Caesar for his brilliance, he was not Augustus who was a cunning yet just man, more respected than his father. I am not Hitler who fell so low regardless of his brilliance. All great giants in history, good or bad, Shisui, have my respect. Each did something to earn their place in history, and each did something questionable. If anything, no one is ever truly good. Not even I, yet we must choose the lesser of two evils, and do not forget the most important rule in history."
Shisui scoffs. "What, those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it?"
Naruto shakes his head. "No. It is that History is written by the victors."
"What are you implying?"
"Depending on who won the Second World War, our perspectives could very much be different."
"So you choose a neutral path?"
"That's up for interpretation. You can judge me in the future though." Naruto says with a smile as a hologram of Cortana appears beside him handing him his own black military long coat. "For now, we have men to save."
Shisui sucks up a breather before letting out and nodding. "Fair enough." He then looks to the men and asks the blonde, "What should we call them?"
"The Helghast of course. It was a successful project. Why change the name?"
"Sounds like that Killzone game." Shisui say.
"Well, they do look badass so of course the author would go with that. They just look fat so he decided to go with the black military long coat."
"Author?"
"Nothing."
Cortana smiles. "Cue plot armor?"
Naruto hums. "Not sure that counts but whatever."
"What are you guys talk-"
"Shh!" Naruto shushes him. "No use for all this negativity here now is there? Let's direct it to the Virals outside."
Cortana smiles before she vanishes as Naruto puts on his long coat and says, "Helghast Legionaries! Onward!"
===== Present =====
The door flies off its hinges. The Virals charge.
A hail of gunfire greets them.
Limbs are sent flying, heads go boom, stomachs go splat, and any unlucky Virals caught in the middle are torn to shreds. The gunfire stops as a man wearing a black military long coat and a special respirator steps out.
The man is followed by another, and another, and another, until there are ten of them before the familiar face of Shisui Uchiha and Naruto Namikaze appear with Naruto being the only one between the two to wear the similar military long coat.
The first ten form a semi circle around the two as more Virals appear.
"These are some annoying little bastards aren't they?" Naruto asks as he looks to the trees and to the ten who each carry SCAR rifles. "Fire at will."
The ten aim and open fire as more men join them but just then, the forests erupts in a blazing inferno.
"What the fuck?" Shisui asks as he looks around dumbfounded. "No way in hell can our ammo do that, right?"
Naruto smirks. "You know, for an Uchiha, you sure know how to show some emotion."
Shisui waves him off. "I'm not one to care much for those things."
It is here that the three in the tower drop down behind them and looks of surprise, awe, and admiration are given to the two and to the now thirty men around them.
"Damn that was so cool! And look at those outfits! WOAH!" Kiba says voicing his, and the thoughts of the other two as they nod.
"What, don't I get any thanks after going through all that trouble?" A lazy male voice calls out as the sound of humming jet engines start to make themselves known to the men on the ground.
Naruto smiles as the air lifts sand and blood while the smoke is directed away from the rundown warehouse.
Across him and his men, a Pelican carrier craft shimmers into existence with many more doing the same further off as they head to his location. He looks to the pilot and says, "Good to see you Shikamaru."
"You as well Naruto. It's been hell trying to hold those two legions down without you or your father you know?" The pilot says as he removes his helmet to reveal the iconic Nara who is just around Naruto's age.
Naruto smiles. "As much as I enjoy your lectures, get down here and pick us up will you?"
Shikamaru then mutters his ever so memorable phrase. "Troublesome."
The four others can only look at the exchange of the two in confusion. They could tell that this Shikamaru was a Nara, but why have they never herd of him before?
Still, there was no time for questions as the Pelican lands and the five get on before being followed by the first ten who stepped out of the warehouse.
Inside, Naruto and Shikamaru greet each other with a brotherly hug as the Pelican begins to hover from the ground and more of Naruto's Helghast Legionaries appear from the warehouse.
"I'm surprised to some degree, Shika." Naruto says as he looks out from ramp of the pelican that has yet to close. "How did you know how to find us?"
Shikamaru smiles. "Thank that blue woman of yours."
Cortana speaks in Naruto's thoughts and says, "I never told him though…"
Naruto would speak but Shikamaru raises a hand to silence him. "I know what she said, or at least I can guess, but really, she told us that you were waking up so I tried to get some of our still functioning sat-feed and bam, here we are."
The blonde smiles. "Leave things to you, huh?"
Shikamaru shrugs. "So long as it isn't that boring."
"You say that but still complain that it's troublesome."
The Nara shrugs again.
Shisui walks up to the two from behind and listens in while watching Pelican after Pelican carry more and more of Naruto's clones.
"How many are there anyway?" Shisui asks as he stares in awe cutting the conversation between Naruto and Shikamaru short, not that he two mind seeing as they finished their important topics already.
Naruto hums before smiling. "Eight hundred." He says as he looks at the number of Pelicans. "I hope you brought enough."
Shikamaru scoffs. "Of course I did. How do you think we survived for this long?"
"Do you really want me to answer that question?" Naruto asks with a smirk.
Shikamaru clears his throat at that. "No, I'm good."
"Good man." Naruto says before turning to head to the cockpit. "Where are we heading?"
Shikamaru walks up beside him before telling him to take a seat behind his pilot seat. He looks up behind him a bit before speaking. "Now?" Here he glances at the map before he looks forward. "Our destination is Japan."
Naruto gives a grim look at those words. "I didn't think I'd be heading back so soon."
Shikamaru smiles. "Count yourself lucky. Michael left a special clone for you." His words make Naruto raise a brow so he continues. "While you were asleep, the survivors of the Legions were completing a new carrier specifically designed to be our second base. It's still incomplete, but we're close. We just need a month or two and we'll be out of reach of the EGO for a very long time."
"EGO?"
"Earth's Governing Order."
Naruto gives an "aaahhhhh" in realization before he smiles. "So we're finally close to getting into space?"
Shikamaru smiles back. "Well, someone's going to be living their dream of creating the ODST from those Halo games we've been playing."
Naruto scoffs. "Yeah, and to think they all said it could not be done… just a quick question. The carrier doesn't look like those in the Halo games, right? Please tell me someone came up with something original."
Shikamaru shrugs. "Say what you will about the Pelicans being copies, but the carrier? Well… you'll see it when we get there."
"God kill me if the author can't think of anything original."
"The plot's original enough. Hell, dude got some hate reviews."
"Yeah… hey author, Halo ships like the Infinity or what?"
We'll see. Can't decide yet.
Naruto and Shikamaru shrug at my response.
As the scene pans out, it shows the Pelican of Naruto and Shikamaru at the front of a flight of roughly 40 or so pelicans, each of the rest carrying 20 men as they head for a gray blur in the distance.
"Which he still has no idea what it's form is."
Shut it Naruto, or I'm never writing you with a pairing.
"..."
Good boy.
===== TBC =====
Finished on April 24, 2019| Philippines| 23:47 hours
Not yet proofread.