Chapter 12
Tuchanka: Rite of Passage (Naruto, Garrus, Grunt)
The young krogan and the Turian sniper looked awed at the young shinobi who just stood in front of them, covered in insect-goo.
"Aw man," Naruto says, "I don't think this is gonna come clean."
"Let Jacob and Ash handle that, Naruto," Grunt told the blonde, "Garrus, hit the keystone." The Turian did as told and another explanation of Krogan history began. When it was over, a small set of antennae poked up from the ground.
"This is the test?"Grunt asked, then shouldered his shotgun and let loose. After that, a monster towered over the three.
Tuchanka: Hospital (Shepard, Mordin, and Miranda)
They had proceeded through several rooms, finding the results of the Blood Pack's genophage experiments at every turn. Shepard even had to dig deep to convince a wounded Urdnot scout to return back to Wrex's camp. Everywhere they turned showed the extents that the Blood Pack would go to to cure the genophage.
"Thinking about Naruto?" Miranda asks her commander.
Shepard turns and asks, "Is it that obvious?"
"That look is. He's helping Grunt with his Rite of Passage. I wonder just what is involved?"
Tuchanka: Rite of Passage (Naruto, Garrus, Grunt)
"Way to go, Grunt," Garrus shouted, "You just picked a fight with a goddammed THRESHER MAW."
"What is this thing?" Naruto asked from cover.
"Huge, and hard to kill," Garrus explained, "Just one of these things was responsible for taking out a platoon of Alliance Marines on Akuze."
"Naruto, I can help." Kurama said from the seal, "You can summon me like you would Gamabunta."
"That didn't work when Madara tried during the war."
"Because you and I are linked together with the seal. He couldn't summon me, but you can."
Naruto smiled as he removed his glove and bit into his thumb. He then cycled through the necessary hand-signs and shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!" The blonde shinobi was thrown into the air and caught by a red-furred tail, as eight other tails thrashed around the battleground. A furry claw reached out from the smoke and slashed at the Thresher Maw. When the smoke finally cleared, Naruto stood atop the head of the mighty Nine-Tailed Fox.
"Did you know he could do that, Grunt?" Garrus asked. Grunt just stood there.
The Thresher spat a viscous acid at the fox, who jumped into the air to avoid the attack. Kurama then picked up a piece of debris from the battlefield with a tail and threw it at the Maw. "Naruto, I'm going to need your help here," the fox told his partner, "As it stands, I cannot use hand-signs. You will act on my will, and create the hand-sign for the Shadow Clone jutsu."
"Ok, Kurama. Let's do it." He made the necessary sign, and in unison with the fox, comanded, "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" Smoke filled the entire battlefield as fox claws reached out from all directions slashing into the Thresher Maw's hide. One final claw uppercutted the maw into the air while Kurama gathered energy into his open mouth. He swallowed the ball of condensed energy and then let loose with a blast that shook the skies and disintigrated the thresher maw. Kurama's shadow clones all disappeared, and the fox laid his head down in front of Garrus and Grunt for Naruto to jump down.
"Naruto," Garrus asks, "Is this the 'Fox' you keep mentioning?"
"You still know how to make a first impression, Kurama," the blonde laughed, causing the fox to laugh, too.
The Urdnot shaman arrived soon after, and proceeded to congratulate Grunt on passing his Rite. He then looked at Naruto and Kurama. The old Krogan walked over to the fox. "I have not seen a being hold so much power in all my years, creature," the shaman said, "Please allow me the honor of knowing your name."
"I am Kurama," the fox replied, "mightiest of the nine biiju, and partner to Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze."
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Kurama, and Naruto. You two are also granted special status, and are honorary members of Clan Urdnot."
Tuchanka – Urdnot Camp – 2 hours later.
Naruto's party finally exited their truck to be met by Shepard, Miranda and Mordin. Shepard saw the condition of Naruto's armor and asked Garrus, "Let me guess. He overdid it again, didn't he?"
"Let's just say that the Thresher Maw is no longer the most feared creature on Tuchanka," Garrus reported, "A certain Fox is."
"You summoned Kyuubi?" came a voice from the shuttle, as Sakura stepped off with Jacob and Sasuke, "Isn't that dangerous?"
"I'm the only one who can summon Kurama,"Naruto explains, "The seal has us linked together, and if needed, I can summon him." Naruto continued to explain his relationship with his biiju, as the Normandy crew took off from Tuchanka, and headed back to their ship.
Shinobi Homeworld – Land of Fire – Konoha
"We welcome you," Tsunade said to the asari and human diplomats sent from the citadel to make contact, "Commander Shepard has told us what is coming, and we shinobi will be ready to assist you when the time comes with additional troops."
"Shepard has made mention of your people's skills," Donnell Udina, councilor Anderson's assistant noted, "And we look forward to a demonstration."
"We have envoys of some of the best shinobi from the now seven great nations, including the Hidden Leaf, Sand, Mist, Rock, Cloud, Rain, and the Land of Iron," Tsunade explained, "Our technology may seem primative to you, but our abilities with chakra more than make up for it."
"I am quite sure," the asari responded, "But what did Shepard say was coming?"
"The Reapers, of course," the Hokage replied, "And we sent our best soldiers out with her."
"Lady Tsunade," Udina stated, "When will your envoys be here?"
"Everyone but the Hidden Stone, Cloud, and Sand envoys are here already," the busty blonde explained, "They will be another couple of days getting here. Why?"
"I would like for Councilor Anderson himself to come here and see for himself your people's abilities, and to discuss an alliance between your people and the citadel council, as well as the human Systems Alliance," the councilor's assistant said, "It would not do for me to speak on his behalf."
"How long would it take for the Councilor to get here?"
"Shouldn't take longer than a couple of days. I have already sent word to him using my omni-tool. He said he'll be coming on an Alliance ship, and here as soon as possible." Udina and Tsunade shook hands and the Hokage, along with her ANBU escort, showed the Citadel envoy around the village."
Normandy SR-2
The party from Tuchanka had just left their gear in the armory. Shepard pulled Naruto over to the side. "I'd like to meet this fox," she told the young blonde.
"You want to meet Kurama?"
"He's apparently a part of you," Shepard noted, "And if that's so, then I want to meet him. He's a part of you, and thus a part of my crew."
"Hey, Fox, she wants to meet you."
"I heard, kid. We can do it, but I'll have to pull her consciousness into the seal to do it. Meaning, I can only do it when you two are asleep."
"He said he can only do it when we're both asleep. Tonight then?"
"Yeah. We've got time, while we head to the next port: Omega. Samara's tracked her fugitive there, and I'll be helping her get her."
"I guess I'll take Sasuke, Sakura, Garrus and Gaara and get a drink in Afterlife then. Who knows, it may be fun."
Captain's Cabin – Time: 22:00 hours.
Naruto and Shepard lay together in bed, asleep. Shepard thought she was dead to the world, until she awoke in what looks like a huge forest. "Welcome to my mindscape," Naruto said to her, "You should have seen it before. Looked like a sewer. But, once I realized I could control the place, I turned it into this, to make Kurama a bit more comfortable."
"So, you're Shepard," came a voice as a fox the size of a large Thoroughbred horse walked up. The most defining trait that Shepard noted was that this fox has nine tails.
"And you're Kurama," she states, "I've been a little anxious to meet you."
"And I you," the fox told the auburn-tressed human, "You've been the best thing to happen to this knucklehead. You probably know that his life hasn't exactly been all sunshine and bunnies."
"It never is for a Jinchuriki," Naruto explained, "Gaara, Bee, and all the other jinchuriki went through such tough times. But it makes us stronger, and it makes us search hard to find that one thing to fill the void in our lives. Speaking of which, Kurama, I was wondering if it's possible to reach out to the other biiju?"
"Not for a while. There's still some months till they revive. Madara's restoring the Juubi effectively killed them for a while. They'll be restored again in about 3 more months."
"Then we need to get word to Bee to have him and Gyuuki contact the other biiju to help against the Reapers," Naruto noted.
"Anderson said he's going to the shinobi homeworld, to meet Tsunade, and discuss a possible alliance. I can have a message sent to Bee through him," Shepard offered.
"That would be great, Shepard," Kurama said in thanks, "All nine Biiju would be a great weapon to use against the reapers. If the Great Nations don't seal them up again. Make sure Tsunade knows not to seal the Biiju up again."
Omega – Docks – 3 days later
"While I'm helping Samara," Shepard explained to her crew, "the rest of you have shore leave. Relax, and be ready to leave when I contact you."
"Garrus, Sasuke, Gaara, Sakura, you're with me," Naruto said to his friends, "We're getting a drink at Afterlife."
"Aria's going to love this," Garrus notes to himself as he and the four shinobi head for the bar.
No sooner had the group gotten into the club, then a Batarian came up to them. He looked right at Naruto.
"You Naruto Uzumaki?" he asked, "Aria wants to see you, and your comrades."
"Wonder what she wants?" Naruto asks as they follow the Batarian.
"We'll find out soon enough," Sakura states, "Because it seems we're there." The group had followed their escort into the Pirate Queen's VIP suite.
"Have a seat," the Asari commands, and the five all sit down, with Naruto in the center of the group.
"What can we do for you?" the blonde asks, "You calling in that favor already?"
"You could say that," Aria answered, "I have need of a 'fixer' of sorts, to take care of a certain 'situation'. If you do this for me, then I will consider us even."
"Then we'll do it," Naruto replied, "What do we have to do?"
"My associate, Griz, will let you know, shortly," Aria explained, "Until then, you shinobi have started to make a name for yourselves. I heard about Nassana Dantius on Ilium. You did the Asari a favor by taking her out. I've been hearing rumors about you since you left Omega. There's always a place for you here."
"While your offer is...enticing," Sasuke states, "We're signed on with Shepard for the long haul on this mission of hers. The Collectors...The Reapers, they're a threat to the entire galaxy, and have to be dealt with."
"I had heard of the Reapers from the Asari councilor not long after Saren attacked the Citadel," the Pirate Queen comments, "Shepard's done me several favors in helping me stay in power here, and for that, I owe her. When the time comes, and the Reapers arrive, I'll ally the mercenaries of Omega with her forces. But I have to warn you all, be very wary of Cerberus, and the Illusive Man. I've had run ins with his people over the years, and he'll stab you in the back in a heartbeat."
"We'll deal with Cerberus in our own way." Gaara tells Aria, "We have weapons that even he doesn't have. We just need certain...assistance."
"Such as?"
"Our people aren't as technologically advanced as you are," Gaara explained, "But we do have the strongest soldiers in the galaxy. If we can get information on the Illusive Man's location, I want to get several teams of Shinobi onto his base, along with technicians from either the Alliance, or your group, and take out the Illusive Man, and thus, crush the head of the snake that is Cerberus."
"We'll have to specially outfit them in armor that matches the specifications of yours," Aria thinks out loud, "You'll have to go to the Shepard for that..but we can stage here for the assault on Cerberus. I'll put out feelers to look for the Illusive Man while you finish off the Collectors. I'll have the local Eclipse work with your people to provide technical assistance. I take it you four will want to lead the assault?"
"Three," Gaara says, "Konoha Team 7 will lead the assault, consisting of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. I'll hang back and help coordinate the assault with the other teams through command and control channels."
Konoha – Hokage's office – Same time as Gaara's explaining his plan.
"Your people have to be the strongest soldiers I have ever seen," David Anderson said, shaking Tsunade's hand, "I was especially surprised by that duo named, Kakashi and Gai. Those two work very well together. The Citadel Council, and the Systems Alliance welcomes an alliance with the shinobi. We will begin outfitting your people with armor that will allow them to work in concert with us. We will also provide technical assistance where needed."
"And we will be ready when the time comes to face the Reapers," Tsunade stated.
"I have a message for you from Naruto," Anderson told the Hokage, "he had Shepard send it to me. He says to have Bee get in contact with the other 7 Biiju when they reappear in 3 months, and to let the other lands know not to seal them away again. They will be a useful ally in the fight against the Reapers. Naruto and someone named 'Kurama' can create an team of the nine biiju to take on the Reapers and possibly destroy them."
"Kurama is the nine-tailed fox sealed in Naruto," Tsunade explains, "If Naruto and Kurama can bring the biiju together to take on the Reapers, then I'll make sure that they don't get sealed. I'll get word to Bee in Kumo. Anything else?"
"Not right now, but we will be in contact again soon to help you get yourselves technologically ready for the Reapers. Shepard forwarded us the modifications to make to normal combat hardsuits to allow for Chakra use."
Omega – Afterlife – VIP Lounge
Naruto and his team had just talked to Patriarch, and tried to talk some sense into the old Krogan, but to no avail. That was when Sakura, being the brains of Team 7, suggested that they fight the mercs for Patriarch, as his Kraant. This went over better with the former Krogan Warlord of Omega and Team 7 walked casually into the VIP lounge area where Naruto watched Shepard walk out with an Asari, then turned to see several Blood Pack mercs walk into the lounge. "This must be them," the blonde thinks as he cracks his knuckles, then says, "You looking for Patriarch?"
"What's it to you, boy?" the lead Krogan asks, as he gets a Wind Style: Rasengan through the chest, sending him flying back into a wall. Sasuke then gave another merc a Chidori through the head, and Sakura pounded the last one so hard that his armor shattered and he went flying over the ring of dancers, and then through a wall.
"He said hi," the Uchiha stated bluntly as the group walked back and told Patriarch of what happened. He seemed happy to have the situation dealt with in the way it was, as it gave him back a bit of his Krogan pride. Another short talk with Aria, and a couple of drinks later, and the group was called back to the Normandy.
Normandy SR-2: Briefing Room.
"Now that all that's handled, we can head to the citadel, and meet with Anderson, as well as take care of a few things for Garrus and Thane," Shepard says, "Naruto, you want to help Garrus?"
"Yeah," Naruto replied, "He told me about Sidonis before we hit Omega. I'll take Sasuke with me. No offense, Sakura, but you're better served by staying with Dr. Chakwas, until we hit the Collectors themselves, then Team 7 will go all out."
"I understand," the rosette haired girl answered.
"Ok, I'll help Thane, and You and Sasuke will help Garrus," Shepard noted, "Joker, how long till we hit the Citadel?"
"About 4 days," Joker commented, "We're going to have to hit a few more uninhabited planets to get materials to finish upgrading the ship. All we've left to acquire is the upgrades to our shields, and fuel stores. That requires a ton of Palladium, and Platinum. I'll have EDI automate the entire process. It'll give us some time to come up with a plan for the Derelict Reaper and getting that IFF."
"Good idea, Joker. Make it happen," Shepard told the helmsman, and then dismissed everyone. Naruto stayed behind.
"You look like you went through hell," he said, "Was dealing with Samara's fugitive that bad?"
"That fugitive was her daughter," Shepard said, as she turned and embraced her shinobi lover, "I can hardly describe how horrible she must feel to have had to kill her own child. That would probably tear any mother apart inside."
"I can't imagine it either," he told her, stroking her hair, "Let's go up to our cabin. We can talk more there." He then put his arm around her waist and lead her to the elevator.
End Chapter 12:
A/N: I'd apologize for the long wait, but there's not really much I can say except that writer's block, work schedules, and my all around fucked up life got in the way. I'll try to update when I can, but I can't make any real promises on any sort of timeline.
Now for an explanation: I'm straying from ME canon here, by having the Shinobi, allied with both the Alliance, and Aria, take out Cerberus, while Shepard goes after Dr. Kenson in the "Arrival" Mission. I'll also be adding in "Lair of the Shadow Broker", and "Overlord", before going into ME3. As a matter of fact, "Shadow Broker" will lead into the Shinobi getting the intel they need on Cerberus to take them out. I'm also trying my damnedest to get the Shinobi and the Biiju into a place where they can serve a major part in the final battle in ME3. I hated the ending to ME3, and I'm writing a better one in this story, which will consist of the Shinobi, and the Biiju taking on Reapers. As a matter of fact, You'll see your first Biiju vs. Reaper battle on Rannoch, as Kurama and Naruto take on the Reaper, not Shepard. I'm not wanting to spend much more time on ME2, as I really want to get into ME3 soon. I'd better get to writing more.
Coming Soon: Chapter 13.