Naruto: A New Beginning
Chapter 8
(Date: June 28, 2552. Location: Epsilon Eridani System, Planet Reach)
"(Static Interference) Bzzzzz. BREAKING NEW'S! this is the CSV radio station reporting to you live, the UNSC is starting to get jumpy folk's, we are continuously hearing false alarms of Covenant contact over at Sigma Octanus IV, Commander Jacob Keyes has made a vocal statement about these false alarms saying that, "It's best we continue to act accordingly to these false alarms for one day they will not be false, Knowing the Covenant's tenacity we are not to underestimate their ability at eventually finding Sigma Octanus IV, So we are currently doing our very best to help prepare for an attack. That is all for now, I will inform the public of any other key events when necessary." And that was the ending of Commander Keyes statement depicting the current events of the Human/Covenant war. Stay tuned for more important broadcasts later on in the day, CSV Radio Station out." This broadcast was being heard by a young blond woman in her near twenty's. Currently she was driving down a dirt path in her father's modified truck with a Golden Retriever sitting next to her on the right side.
'(Sigh) I don't feel like this is ever gonna end. It's been about twenty-five years of this bullshit and every victory humanity makes is always at a huge cost. If only there was something I could do about that besides following in my dad's footsteps.' Were the girl's current train of thoughts.
"Hey Chaser." The girl said in a tone of voice most people use to get the attention of their dogs.
"ARF!" Was Chaser's immediate response as he turned his attention away from sticking his head out the window to looking at his owner excitedly.
"What do you think I should do, huh. Should I just stay here and try to live a normal life or should I join the ODST. I'm sure that last one is what my father would have wanted." She said with a melancholic expression.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!" Chaser stuck his head out the window again but this time his attention seemed to be directed at something else. "ARF ARF ARF!" Chaser kept looking at a single direction on the left side of the rode as he continuously barked.
Eventually. "Oh my god, is that a person." The blonde girl immediately slowed down and stopped right next to the downed person.
"OH MY GOD! It is a person!" The girl immediately got out of her truck to investigate the body. She quickly ran to the apparent boy's side and shot out a hand to his neck to check for a pulse.
"And he's alive." She whispered to herself. Eventually Chaser joined her and started sniffing the boy, then he wagged his tail quickly and started barking incessantly.
"Hey, be quiet Chaser." The dog actually obeyed.
When Chaser had quieted down that's when she took notice of a noise coming from the seemingly teenage boy.
"Is he?. . . Snoring?" As it turns out the boy was asleep on a dirt path with tattered clothing. How odd.
"Hey, Wake up." She moved him gently as she said this. "Come on wake up." Still no answer besides an even louder snore, this had her develop a tic mark on her forehead. "Come on you have to wake up and get off the road." She said this as she shook him a little more roughly in a better attempt to make him wake up.
This time though it appeared she had succeeded because the boy's eyes shut themselves tighter and then started opening gradually.
"Hey kid, you have to wake up and get off the road." The girl said as she supported the blonde haired kid's back as he was starting to get up.
"Huh. . . Kami-Sama?" Was the boy's weary response as he took in the beautiful blonde girl's appearance for a goddess.
"Ummmm, I don't know who this Kami-Sama person you're referring to is but I'm not her. Come on we have to get you off the road, you don't look like the healthiest person right now." The girl took the boy's arm and wrapped it around her shoulder and half dragged, half carried him to the back of her truck.
Her truck had the appearance of a military transport Warthog except it was modified with an extended back end and four doors, also it was painted red. She opened one of the back doors instead of putting him in the uncomfortable trunk. She guided him into the back seat where he proceeded to sit still as he tried to take stock of his current situation.
Eventually the light-blond haired girl went to the driver's seat and saw Chaser waiting for her in the front passenger seat already. She pressed a button where the ignition key would usually be for a normal car and re-engaged the car engine and took off on the dirt road.
As she was driving she took note of the blond haired kid's appearance from the interior rear-view mirror and noticed how he was finally coming to his senses. She also noticed the burn marks on his clothing and skin but oddly enough there weren't any injuries to his person.
He finally noticed the girl and the dog in the front seat and his eyes widened quite comically.
"What the, Hey! Can you tell me where the hell I am. And what kind of summons are we riding on anyway it's going pretty fast if you ask me." The boy asked some pretty weird questions.
'It's official.' The girl thought. 'I just picked up a psycho that escaped the psychiatric ward.' She thought with a sweat drop.
Suddenly a loud noise filled the air that almost made the girl swerve and crash into the forest.
"WHAT! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" She screamed franticly with wide eyes.
"Sorry, heh heh, I haven't had a decent meal all day and I was lost in that forest." Yep you guessed it, Naruto's insatiable appetite reared its ugly head.
"That was you! Jeez I thought we were suddenly being attacked by a pair of Guta's." Naruto looked at her oddly.
"Ummm, what's a. . .Guta?" Naruto asked in a confused manner.
"How can you not know what a Guta is, that's impossible, if you have been living on Reach then you should know what a Guta is." The girl was looking at Naruto weirdly judging by what he could see on the interior rear-view mirror.
"Naruto!" Kurama suddenly spoke.
'What is it Kurama?' Naruto thought back.
"Tell this female you are having trouble remembering anything, that way she can answer your questions without too much suspicion." Looks like Kurama decided to take steps in creating a better relationship with Naruto as well.
'Hey thanks for the advice Kurama, I really appreciate it.' Naruto hoped he was conveying the equivalent of one of his grins because that's what he felt like doing right now but it would look weird in front of this girl.
"Well ya see pretty lady, for some reason I can't really remember much of what's happened over the years for some reason. I think they call it amnesia but I'm not too sure." Naruto lied with a sheepish grin.
The girl actually blushed slightly from his pretty lady comment but decided to comment.
"Well that explains why you don't know what a Guta is, Hah let alone a Warthog for that matter. I remember you called it a summons or something like that you weirdo." The girl said with a smile. "Well I guess I can take it upon myself to re-educate you." As soon as she finished that sentence her eyes seemed to light up as they arrived at a vast open field growing all sorts of plants, seemingly in the center was a farmhouse.
"Welcome to my home AKA Kivas." She said with a nostalgic smile. "Ah, I never get tired of coming home to this." Soon they arrived to a dirt drive-way in front of the house.
"Wow, you got a pretty nice home out here." Naruto said while facially showing his awe at the scenery. Eventually the girl got out of the Warthog and her faithful companion Chaser followed her out. She still had to help Naruto get out because he really didn't have any energy at the moment; a lack of a proper meal for a whole day after strenuous activities does that to you.
She led him to a picnic table under a tree and had him sit in one of the wooden chairs.
"Alright, wait here and let me get you something to eat. I know you're hungry and also we can properly introduce ourselves over the meal." Leaving without any room for debate, the stunning blond bombshell walked into her house leaving Naruto to his own devices.
'Wow, she's really hot.' Was Naruto's first thought when he saw her leave to get him food. He was now reminiscing about the time she found him and her beauty had him think he was meeting Kami-Sama herself.
"Naruto!" Kurama suddenly interjected Naruto's thoughts.
'Yeah, what's up Kurama?' Naruto asked.
"Make sure to ask her relevant questions, and think before you speak. We need to gather as much information as we possibly can if we are going to live in this new dimension." Kurama makes a good point, can't live without information.
'Yeah, thanks for the reminder. I was planning on asking her where exactly are we and stuff like that any way.' Naruto said with a serious expression.
"That's good and all but I felt the need to remind you due to how easily distracted you get." Kurama makes all the good points.
And cue Naruto's sheepish expression.
'Can't really deny that there now can I, heh." Soon he saw the door of the girls home open again and out she came with a pot of food.
Everything instantly went slow motion for Naruto as he finally got a really good look at the girl before him.
'She's gorgeous.' Naruto mentally whispered.
And gorgeous she was with her long, flowing, glossy light blond hair waving freely in the wind, and those beautiful brown eyes of hers that perfectly fit the rest of her perfect face. Naruto was trying his hardest not get a nose-bleed right now but the tight black tank top she was wearing and those tight blue jeans just seemed to accentuate her body perfectly for his imagination.
At some point time started to flow again in Naruto's perception of the world and his senses smelled something that could only be food and this overtook any other sense because he was hungry as hell.
This was accentuated by the fact that there was some drool dripping off the right side of his mouth.
"Yep! I knew you were hungry." She giggled a little a she took note of the drool gradually sliding down his chin.
She then put the pot down she was holding with both hands and entered her home again to get some bowls. She came back with two medium sized bowls and placed one in front of Naruto and the other where she would be sitting.
"Don't expect a five-star meal, I had to make this from scratch with the ingredients I had." She opened the pot and inhaled the smell of its contents. "Regardless this is some Moa stew I made with Moa meat some vegetables and a little bit of seasoning I had left over." She picked up a wooden ladle and started taking scoops of the stew and pouring it into Naruto's bowl.
"Waddya mean, this smells great, ummmm." Naruto stood up with as much strength as he could muster and extended his hand out to the girl. "Well we still haven't exchanged names yet and now is as good a time as any." The girl smiled and put down the ladle which was in her right hand and also extended it and held Naruto's hand.
"Well I'll go first, my name is Camilla Crespo." Camilla said with a smile.
"Awesome, My name is Naruto Uzumaki. Nice ta meetcha Camilla." Naruto said with his most friendly smile in place. They shook hands to seal the deal and both sat down, Camilla calmly while Naruto with a tired grunt.
"Well go ahead and try it, then tell me what you think." Camilla was referring to the stew she made.
Naruto's stomach grumbled once more and his brain faculty couldn't take it anymore. He started chowing down on the meal like a ravenous beast. It didn't even last 10 seconds before he was already asking for seconds, then thirds, and then fourths. Camilla didn't even have time to eat her own meal as she was more fascinated at the inhumane speed this Naruto guy was eating.
"Well judging by how much you ate I would say my Mao stew was a success." She said with a small giggle.
Naruto actually had the decency to look embarrassed while scratching the back of his head.
"Hah, yea it tasted great. . ." Naruto paused for a bit and then got up really quickly and then bowed towards Camilla.
"Thanks a bunch for the meal, if you hadn't come along I don't know what could have happened to me, So I am forever in your debt." Naruto got up from his bowing position and gave her surprised expression a small smile.
"Um, you're welcome." She said this in an awkward manner, hell it's not every day you deal with people like Naruto so cut her some slack.
Apparently though it seemed Naruto regained some of his energy after eating about four bowls of what she call's Mao stew.
"Say, you don't mind if I ask you some questions to fill in the blanks right?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"Sure I don't mind, go on ahead to my living room while I clean up here." She said this as she was about to start picking up the pots and bowls.
"Hell no, that wouldn't be right of me." Naruto said as he moved slightly faster to pick up the pot and the bowls and gestured for her to lead the way with his head.
Camilla decided not to say anything and did as she was asked. She did appreciate the gesture though.
Once he followed her inside she led him through a nicely furnished living room area that was connected to the kitchen. Once inside the kitchen Naruto immediately located the kitchen sink and turned on the faucet to clean the dishes. Camilla knew she wouldn't be able to stop him so she decided to take a seat on the kitchen table that was bolted to the floor behind Naruto.
Suddenly Naruto spoke up as he was finishing the dishes. "Hah. I know it's going to be weird answering my questions but I promise it'll help me in the end." He said with a small smile on his face.
"Go on and ask away." Camilla said politely.
"Well for starters, where am I? What is this place called in its entirety?" Naruto said as he just finished cleaning the two bowls and large metal pot, and then turning around.
"Well the name of the planet were currently inhabiting is a military fortress called Reach." She said with a neutral look on her face. "And in case you didn't know which, no offense, you obviously do not. Reach is one of the four planets inhabiting the Epsilon Eridani Star System." Naruto's eyes were wide with surprise at this point.
"Woah. One of four planets." Naruto said with apparent awe in his voice.
"Yep, and that's not all. This is just one of the systems that humanity has colonized, Todays year is 2552 and from what I remember in my history books slip-space travel was invented in 2291, so throughout all those years Humans have been finding and colonizing planets ever since then, they now number in the hundreds so you can imagine the billions of people that exist now right?" She said with a sad smile that slightly confused Naruto.
Never the less Naruto was still awed and astounded by what she was telling him. Never in his wildest dreams would he imagine something as incredible as expanding the human race to the heavens above.
"What's slip-space travel?" Naruto had to understand what kind of technique they used to move to faraway places like that.
"Heh heh, Well it's a little hard to explain but I'll try my best. Slip-Stream Space or Slip-Space for short was made possible by the evidence compounded by a bunch of scientists leading to two scientists named Tobias Shaw and Wallace Fujikawa." She looked at Naruto to see if he understood what she was saying so far, he actually understood her gesture and nodded his reassurance. "Okay, well these two scientists worked together to create something called the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. I'm sure you have a basic understanding of gravity and matter and our dimension itself right?" She asked hopefully because she didn't really feel like getting into another long winded explanation. Luckily he nodded firmly showing his understanding.
You may not know it folks but Naruto had to study hard with his shadow clones when trying to recreate his father's Hiraishin technique, and to better utilize that technique you need a good understanding of gravity and matter and the fabric of space and time.
Camilla decided to continue with her explanation.
"Well once that was accomplished what the engine basically did was create small ruptures in space formerly called worm-holes, between normal space and an alternate plane known as slip-space. I wish I could explain the physics but no one really can because the physics in slip-space aren't like the physics we are experiencing right now, but because of those unexplainable physics it allows us to create a shortcut realm that helped us facilitate interstellar travel between distant regions in reasonable time." Naruto was sweating a little bit as ideas were running through his mind.
He understood most of what she was talking about excluding the technology used to achieve that kind of travel. In fact he knew that these slip-space ruptures is what he accidentally created when attempting to test the Hiraishin.
'If I could gain a better understanding of this maybe I could use it to go back home.' Naruto thought excitedly.
"Sorry to say, BUT DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Kurama yelled angrily in his head.
'WHY NOT!' But Naruto had the gall to yell right back.
"I know quite a bit about physics brat and I know for a fact that if you even try to re-attempt this with hope of success, you will not succeed. These quote on quote slip-space ruptures are by no means accurate because humans still lack the scientific understanding of these portals. If you were to try and make another Hiraishin seal at this very moment and accidently recreate the very same effects as before, you probably wouldn't have the same luck landing in a normal plane of existence such as this. In fact you are more likely to land in a dimension where your atom's will have to be forcibly re-arranged to turn you into a sentient blob of goo. Or even more likely a very destructive dimension, one probably filled with constant raging fires or increased gravitational pressure. I suggest you man up and stay in this dimension before you get us both killed." Once again Kurama the god of making a point strikes again, And Naruto had no say in the matter because he knew his recently befriended tailed beast was correct.
'Damn, I know your right Kurama. But I'm not gonna give up on the possibility of there being some way back home. YOU HEAR ME! I will not give up, but I promise I won't risk our lives unnecessarily for that pursuit.' Naruto relented.
"Good, that's what I wanted to hear. Now stop talking to me, that human female is trying to regain you're attention." With that Kurama shut his eyes to try and sleep again.
"Huh…" Was Naruto's UN-intelligent vocal reply to what Kurama said.
"I said are you okay, you spaced out on me for a moment." Was Camilla's response to Naruto's unintelligible reply.
"OH YEAH! I was just thinking about something is all, Sorry." During Naruto's response he was waving his arm about quite frantically from fear and embarrassment.
"That's okay but I hope you don't keep doing that while I'm trying to answer your questions." Camilla said offhandedly with a small smirk in place.
"I WON'T, I PROMISE!" Naruto said with wide eyes. He was quite desperate to not lose his only source of information at the moment. He took it upon himself to grab a chair from the table Camilla was sitting on and placed it a medium distance in front of her where he would sit as he continued to ask questions.
"So, back to what you were saying about Slip-Space, in simple terms it's like having a flat sheet of paper and then folding that paper until both sides meet. Right?" Naruto was always a genius at simplifying things.
"Yes from what I know that is actually a good analogy, glad you understand." She said with a smile, she felt like a school teacher right now. "Any other questions?"
"Well, is there anything important you think you should tell me?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"Actually there are tons of things but I feel like you want to know something that's currently relevant, am I right?" Naruto nodded his head in affirmation. "Well there is one very important aspect about how the life of humanity has changed since 2525." Naruto's curiosity was piqued as a ninja he could read and feel the emotions radiating off of Camilla at this very moment, and they were mainly anger and extreme disgusted resentment.
"Yeah, what is it?" Naruto asked regardless as she seemed to be stewing in memories of her own.
"I wasn't born yet but I remember the date I was told it started. February 3rd, 2525. . . the start of a galactic war of epic proportions." She said this with a sad frown and a melancholic tone of voice.
"Let me guess, once new technology was available everyone started fighting over who would take control right?" Was Naruto's angry guess.
"Quite the contrary really, for a couple hundred years human civilization has advanced to a single world government and nowadays discrimination barely exists due to how most of the population is scientifically literate." Camilla said with a very small but proud smile at this accomplishment.
"So who started the war then?" The answer would also be something that's beyond Naruto's wildest dreams.
"A great and terrible power known as the covenant attacked the human race on that date. To be precise the covenant is a large group of different species of aliens that all fall under one religion." Naruto's eyes were wide and he was standing up while gripping the chair harshly with his right hand. "The reason they attacked us first is because they saw us as a threat to their religion, only they can possibly understand how we can be a threat to their religion but afterwards we became a threat to their continued existence when we retaliated en masse." Naruto was still gripping the chair angrily and he had a heated expression on his face, yet he still had enough willpower to let her continue. "We weren't seen as a huge threat just yet because they knew they had the more advanced technology and they killed billions of us Naruto just for the sake of their religion which we were informed was called The Great Journey. Just because we were supposedly perceived as threats they try and step on us like ants, but I still hold on to hope that we can somehow win against all odds. That's what the human race is all about am I right?"
Naruto could only nod his agreement.
"Even throughout the chaos there is still hope Naruto, one day my dad told me about how the Office of Naval Intelligence was creating Super-Soldiers to help combat the bad aliens as he would put it when I was younger. But I haven't gotten word from him since he became an ODST." Tears were now falling gradually from Camilla's eyes. Naruto immediately moved to her and hugged her.
Camilla seemed surprised at first but the only source of comfort she has had were the farm animals and her dog Chaser. But there is only so much in animal could do so when the opportunity presented itself to let out some frustration with a kindred spirit she took the chance, And cried her heart out.
Naruto did his best to try and comfort her. In the short time span of a single day his life had taken a dramatic turn, but even then Naruto wore that determined facial expression and promised himself to do everything he can to help the people in this dimension combat the odds that he himself has faced throughout his life.
Eventually Camilla pushed him away ever so gently and mumbled quiet thanks of appreciation.
"I'm sorry you had to see me like that Naruto but this war has been rough on everyone, I can't believe I have the gall to think it let alone say it but I feel like you should be lucky you can't remember anything so you don't have to feel this pain." Camilla said as she wiped away any stray tears.
"Camilla, I'm sure you remember I said I am forever indebted to you. So if you ever decide to try and find your father or follow in his footsteps however you can, now is the time to tell me. . . I say this because whatever purpose I had before my amnesia is being replaced by the need to take a hand in ending this war. So please tell me now because if you decide not to I'm not going to be able to repay you in any other way besides trying to find your dad myself." Camilla was the one looking at Naruto's determined eyes with her wide ones right now.
"But, but we barely know each other for you to do something like that. How can you decide something like that on a whim." Camilla said in a confused and trembling tone of voice.
"Because even though I may have forgotten some things I'm still Naruto Uzumaki and I never forget my sense of self, To Never Give Up, To Help Those When They Need It The Most, TO ALWAYS PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF GREAT ADVERSITY. That is who Naruto Uzumaki is and don't you forget it." Camilla was looking at him with wide astounded and awed eyes as she took stock of his determination and this odd yet comforting power he seemed to be resonating with.
"Alright." Camilla relented.
"Alright, what?" Naruto asked, determined mask still in place.
"Alright, since your dead set on helping me I should let you know that I was planning on joining the ODST's anyway." Camilla said with a determined expression of her own.
"Hell Yeah! That's what I like to see. . . What are the ODST's anyway." Camilla produced a small sweat drop on the back of her head before remembering his apparent amnesia.
"Well, ODST is an abbreviation. What it stands for is Orbital Drop Shock Trooper and what they specialize in is enemy shock tactics. They were inspired by the 20th century para-troopers that used to drop out of the sky from air planes in parachutes." Camilla said with an excited grin.
"That sounds soooo awesome, so what makes ODST's different with the technology they have now?" Camilla took on an excited grin of her own as she remembered the tales her dad told her when she was little about the same time he was getting ready to join himself.
"Well what makes them different is that instead of parachutes they use this thing called a (Single Occupant Exo-atmospheric Insertion Vehicle) or SOEIV for short. It's a small technologically advanced pod fit for a single human that's used by the United Nations Space Command which is our military as a whole. Anyway it deploys a single human occupant from high-orbit." She pointed at the sky for emphasis even though they were inside a house. "And drops them like meteors to the surface of whichever planet. . . pretty cool huh Naruto." She couldn't help it herself, she was a mirror reflection of Naruto's maniacal grinning.
"That has got to be one of the coolest things I have ever heard . . . when do we start?" Was Naruto's immediate response to that awesome craziness.
"Well starting is easy, but getting though basic training isn't a walk in the park Naruto." She said in a slightly teasing voice as if implying he might chicken out once the training starts. If only she knew who she was really dealing with.
"Hah! That's crazy talk. Didn't I tell ya I. Never. Give. Up." Naruto said with his arms crossed and confident smirk firmly in place. "In fact it just makes life easier when the opposition gives up on me giving up so I hope you take that to heart because I'm dead serious." He was still confidently smirking.
"Alright, well first we have to get a good night's rest and then we can head into town for some food and a new change of clothing for you, for now I'll give you a t-shirt and sleep pants that use to belong to my dad, they probably won't fit you but it's better than what your wearing right now. (sniff) And you need a nice hot shower to compliment that as well." She giggled at his sour expression, then gestured for her to follow him. Hopefully to the bathroom because he really could use a nice hot shower right now.
Authors Note: Well there you have it my distant family. Yes I call you all my distant family because we are all connected. Regardless I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to review. Tell me my mistakes, compliment me, give me ideas this is why I ask for reviews. I'm even getting a couple hundred readers from the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom. I never knew so many people from so many different places would take the time to read my story, so please take those extra couple of extra seconds and review. Peace and Love is what I follow Peace and love family.