I really don't remember when I started this chapter, but I am picking it back up 22May23.

Well it has been a while since I have began a new chapter for this story but here it goes.

"Regular speech"

"Different language"

-AI speech-

-Communication device-

Ch.4 New Home.

2543, OCT 09

"What is the last thing you remember?"

Those words echoed in Hinata's head for a minute until the image of one of the strange creatures that invaded her home using a strange object that launched a pinkish purple crystal at her and then nothing.

Naruto watched as Hinata slowly remember what happened and he switched his attention to the redheaded girl that traveled with his old teammate. She was also processing what had happened. Both girls started to break down and cry as they realized that their friends and loved ones were more than likely dead.

Naruto still not entirely sure what to do when women were crying just stood there while Sakura wheeled herself over to Hinata to comfort her. Naruto somewhat following her lead walked over to Karin and sat down in a chair that was right next to her bed. Karin pretty much latched onto Naruto as best as she could without moving her legs too much.

Naruto and Sakura stayed there until the two calmed down enough to talk.

"I assume you have an idea what has happened?" Both nodded and Naruto began to explain what had happened after they were incapacitated till now.

Naruto took a breath and continued "Well I can say that both of you are very lucky to have survived the onslaught and I have a proposition for all three of you." At this Sakura even looked confused.

"At this point in time I have given my services to a race of people that are almost exactly like us, minus the chakra of course, but are far more technologically advanced than our people. They have asked me to finish my projects, and help them win a war against the things that destroyed our home. I will be put in charge of a ship that I am upgrading and my hope is that you all will join me. The UNSC would be happy to have you enter its service to help destroy the Covenant. Now I don't expect and answer right now but if you don't want to join me, I will understand and will help you go wherever you wish to go."

"I will leave you to think about what you want to do, but now the doctor will be checking up on you three, yes you too Sakura, and because he doesn't speak our language I am going to be translating for him and the three of you." As Naruto said that Doc Weatherford poked his head into the room.

"That's a surprise, they're all awake." Said Weatherford noticing the looks of confusion from the two girls. "I assume you will be here to translate?"

"Yup."

"Ok, who would like to go first?" asked The grizzled doctor. No one spoke up and Naruto simply pointed at Sakura who looked annoyed but wheeled herself over to Weatherford. Weatherford went through and checked her vitals, asked if she was feeling any pain, checked what remained of her arm which wasn't much, and checked to see how her muscle growth was going.

"Well, she is healing nicely and regaining her muscle mass rather quickly, though I still recommend her to still keep going to rehab." Naruto relayed the message to Sakura who agreed with Weatherford's assessment.

Weatherford then moved over to Hinata who shied away from him. "Would you like for me to get a female nurse?" asked Weatherford.

After being translated, she shook her head no. He started the same checks he had on Sakura minus the arm, he instead checked her needle rifle wound, which was healing nicely.

"Ok, she will be fine after some rehab. I do recommend that she starts in a few days. Finally little red over there just has burns that have healed for the most part and she'll probably be the first out of the three to recover, however she'll have burn scars for the rest of her life, I'm afraid there's nothing anyone can do about that. I do recommend she joins the other two for rehabilitation as she has been out for the same amount of time as the other two and it will alert us to any other damage that we may have missed." Said Weatherford.

"Thanks Doc, I'll let you know if I need anything else." Said Naruto as Weatherford left.

"So does anyone have any questions for me before I tell you all your set schedule for the foreseeable future?" asked Naruto looking around the room.

"Umm… if we were to join you in helping these people, what would we need to do?" asked Hinata looking nervous.

"Well this coinsides with what I'm about to say, so I'll go ahead and tell you all what's going to happen. First, you all are going to go through rehab to get adjusted to what's happened, then during that time you will be taught the language these people use. Once you all have been medically cleared, I will help you all get back into fighting shape. After that, you can go do whatever it is you wish, or you can help me with my projects. I don't need an answer right away, but don't take too long in making a decision." Said Naruto as he tried to exit the room to let the girls have some alone time, only he was stopped when Hinata grabbed his arm.

"Please, stay." She asked still looking distraught.

Naruto nodded and sat in a chair next to her bed, though he was surprised when Sakura slowly stood up from her chair and wobbly walked over to Naruto and plopped down in his lap. This action surprised all in the room.

"What?" She asked noticing all the confused looks and the glare from Hinata.

"A little out of character don't you think?" asked Naruto.

"It's cold, and you're always so warm, besides I didn't think you would complain."

"No complaints, just confusion." Said Naruto looking between Hinata and Sakura. This was going to be a long day.


-Three days later-

Naruto was overjoyed as the ODST's that were transporting the parts that he requested had arrived. Naruto was almost bored to tears as all he had to do up to that point was to prepare for the arrival of his parts, which took him only an hour, and spar with Daisy who was not in her armor. Daisy had pretty much stayed by his side for the last two days and Naruto assumed that it was to not let him out of her sight as per orders. But Naruto didn't care as now he had what he was waiting on, and the giant plus was that he didn't have to use scraps this time to build his shields, he had everything he needed so this prototype should be a vast improvement to what he had built on the Promise.

Another thing was brought to his attention was that his new ship needed a name. Of course, it had one already, but as it was being given another chance at life, both Hinata and Sakura proposed that he should give it a new name. He at first thought to name it the Will of Fire, but thought against it. His home was gone and it wasn't coming back, and in those thoughts of his, a lightbulb went off. He had the perfect name, but he wouldn't reveal it until it was time. For now he was content in peacefully putting together his field projector with the correct parts this time, or that was what he was going to do until he was interrupted by two ODSTs and Daisy entering his shop/lab. The three simply stood there and watched Naruto slowly construct the machine that they assumed was part of the shielding system he was creating.

"May I ask why you three are loitering here." Naruto said not even looking up from his work.

The three didn't say anything for a second before one of the ODSTs spoke up. "Sir, is it true that you are not a Spartan?"

Naruto laughed at the question, not because it was a stupid one, but because he could see where the man was coming from and he found it funny. He was almost as tall as Daisy and he frequently beat her in their spars.

"No, I am not one of Halsey's children." Naruto said confusing the ODST's and shocking Daisy.

The other ODST spoke up after the other one did. "Sir, how are you not a Spartan, yet can easily go toe to toe with one?" she asked.

"My people were slightly different than you, sure we look like normal humans, but we are more durable and can do a few more…. What you would call wacky things." Said Naruto while he connected two power relays to his system.

"So are you three going to say what you're really here for?" Naruto asked while giving all three of them a pointed stare.

The two ODSTs glanced at each other hesitantly before the male ODST spoke up. "Sir, despite your request of as few guards as possible, high command has ordered the entirety of the eleventh Shock Battalion to guard your facility, I am Lieutenant Colonel Chris Nurorsk, or as my men call me 'Nuro'. This is my second in command Major Fay Autumn."

Naruto froze at the Lieutenant Colonel's words and said nothing for a few seconds causing both of the officers to look uncomfortable.

Naruto put down his tools and faced the two officers and Daisy with a look of agitation on his face. "Who ordered this?" he asked curtly.

"The orders came down from Lord Hood sir."

Naruto sighed. "How many men do you have under your command?"

"Three hundred and eighty-nine sir."

"Why did he order this?"

"I was not given any other information other than we are to guard you and we are to be assigned to your ship as soon as it is repaired." Said Nuro.

"Great, well I suppose I should lay out some ground rules. First I expect everyone to not mess with my compatriots as they are still recovering, any that agitate them will have to answer to me, if my friends haven't already delt with them themselves. Second, no one is to be in my lab if I am not present. Third, I expect you all to keep in shape and not get lazy on this easy guard assignment. If I find that you or your men are slacking off or are losing their edge, I will give your whole battalion a taste of what my master had me do while training. Is this understood?" both officers nodded. "Good, now Daisy-" said spartan flinched, which both ODSTs noticed. "What can I do for you?"

"My orders stated I am not to let you out of my sight." Said Daisy looking uneasy as Naruto made her feel like she was prey under the watchful eyes of a predator. If anyone told her she would meet someone who could go toe to toe with a spartan and live, she would have laughed in their faces but she had bruises to prove her wrong. She had only won two of the spars that they had and she felt like he was holding back.

"I appreciate your commitment, but I would rather you watch over my friends." Naruto stated while continuing to carefully piecing together his machine.

"My orders wer-" "Yes, but now you are under my care for now correct?" Naruto interrupted.

"Yes sir."

"You know from our spars that I am not one of those defenseless eggheads that you are used to seeing running around labs like these, but my friends are recovering and cannot fight. The easiest way to get to me is to go though them. So, that is why I want you to guard them, at least till they are back in fighting shape." Said Naruto. "That goes for your men as well Nuro, if any major harm befalls my friends, my displeasure will be known by all."

"Um… Sir?" asked Fey.

"Yes?"

"We would like for the men to meet you so they know who it is that they are protecting." Said Fey.

"very well, but hold off on that for a few days. I would like to get a feel for the men that I will eventually be in charge of." said Naruto smirking a little too much.

"Errr… yes sir." Fey responded.

-End-

This one is a little short and way overdue but I am having trouble coming up with ideas with this one as halo lore has many gaps and some of the lore is not very descriptive.

19Jun23