Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Log Horizon. This is a fanfiction used to help with my writing skills and the fact I enjoy writing stories like these. All I own is the ideas and sub-plots used to make this fanfiction and explore Log Horizon and Naruto in a different way. Also, don't own any of the games and anime I make reference to in this story, but still got to give homage to video games since this is technically a video game fanfiction as well.
"Well, it should at least keep us dry from the rain." Akatsuki felt her eye twitching at the building before her. She followed the three men, hoping to repay Shiroe, but this was not what she was expecting.
[The structure is still sound. I can fix it up tomorrow along with making beds. I'll make training dummies tonight so you all can do training while I work.] Las Boss padding his hand on the remains of a skyscraper, but only the first floor remained. It was inside a fence formed from another building with the upper part completely gone, meaning the remaining build was a part of the inside of the original building.
"It's small, but pretty cheap at 6,500 gold. Though, what about the shrimp?" Naotsugu looked at Akatsuki and instantly yelped when she kneed him in the face. "What was that for?"
"I'm not a shrimp!" Akatsuki glared at the idiot. "And why are we at this place? Couldn't we stay at an inn?"
"Sorry. It's just we realized that option might not be open much longer." Shiroe said, making Akatsuki frown at him. "Hence we secured a base where we can rest if the inns were bought by guilds. You can sleep at the inn tonight. I just wanted to make sure you seen where we can be found in case you need something." Shiroe did a slight bow along with the apology.
"I am not going anywhere till I repay you." Akatsuki said, her serious face on. A Reset Appearance Potion is costly. Can I even repay him back with all my money? Akatsuki thought, her worry eating away at her. But, her pride would not allow her to leave a debt unpaid.
"D-Don't worry about it. Think of it as a gift." Shiroe looked away from Akatsuki's laser glare.
"I cannot stand owing a debt to anyone." Akatsuki stated, though hiding her own nervousness. I only have 30,000 thousand on me. Even adding in all my items, that much not be enough.
"Ah… But, Boss, help me here," Shiroe gave a whimper of help to Las Boss. Akatsuki narrowed her eyes at the dropout ninja. The man was still surveying the area, studying it with a keen eye.
[You know the price of a Reset Appearance Potion has skyrocketed, right, Shiroe? It's worth well over 1,000,000 gold by now.] Las Boss shook his head, putting his traveling chest on the ground. He sat on a rock and opened on of the drawers, pulling out string and other supplies. [Ah, Akatsuki, you think of yourself as a ninja, right? Like you said before.]
"Yes." Akatsuki nodded, narrowing her eyes. What is he up to?
[How about you work for Shiroe and join our party?] Las Boss pointed at his text boxes. [You can be his shinobi and protect him. A bodyguard type mission usually pays roughly from 30,000 ryou to 1,000,000 ryou depending on the danger level of the mission. If you work for us just to train and figure out the battle system, you could pay off your debt in a few days even if you just changed the ryou to Gold. Though ryou equals ten yen with what my employers use for my pay rate, so it's actually 300,000 to 10,000,000 yen. But, I don't remember the conversion rate of Yen to Gold for the game, so that could be lot of Gold…. What's with the looks?] Las Boss frowned at the open mouths on Shiroe and Naotsugu, gaping at him. Akatsuki even did not know if she was a gaping from her own shock.
"Holy cow festival, that's a lot of money," Naotsugu said, glaring at Las Boss. "You're trolling us, aren't ya?"
"He's not. How much is on your head, as a bounty?" Shiroe asked, shaking his head.
[Last I check, it's up to 2,000,000 ryou. Since I gotten photos of major villages, gotten a network of employees and companies who could be confused as a spy network, and yet to properly be investigated by any ninja, my bounty is pretty high even though I am not an official ninja. Hence I made sure to keep in mind how much missions are in case I need to pay for support. Not that I really need much since when it comes to surviving, I'm a pro both in Elder Tales and the shit game I was in.] Las Boss did a thumbs up with a smug smile on his face.
"You're world is crazy," Shiroe sighed, "I can see why you delve into working for Elder Tales full time. But, please do not rub it in." Akatsuki cocked her head at the angry glare Shiroe was giving the Druid.
[Only 30 times I've died in Elder Tales, all times when I was made a raid boss GM, so I never lost my experience. How can I not brag? Though, I still don't get my new status. Sure, I was scheduled to be a raid boss, but I was not coded to be so when Elder Tales replaced the shit game.] Las Boss sighed, [Though, what do you think Akatsuki? Having a DPS would be great as we complete the Holy Trinity.]
"Holy Trinity?" Akatsuki asked while noticed Naotsugu and Shiroe shaking their heads.
"You're definitely a gaming NEET, Las. He's referring to the perfect party of a fighter, rogue, and mage many games and stories use." Naotsugu chuckled.
"Elder Tales is built up on it, though mage is divided into healers and mages." Shiroe added, adjusting his glasses. "Though, all RPGs, including MMOs, use this basic design as it is the easiest to build up on for the combat classes."
"Wait? Really!" Naotsugu looked at Shiroe with shock.
[Yep. But this is why Elder Tales works better than the shit game I was playing before. There are clearly defined roles and purpose to everything, even if some are bad. I can understand this world compared to the crazy shit game where one had no clue if they were a puppet or the GM.] Las Boss let out a sigh. A look of melancholy on his face as he looked at the ground.
Wait. Was he using games as escapism from his world? Akatsuki pondered, trying to figure out the supposed ninja before her. When she thought of it, even though being a ninja was a dream of hers, she never thought what a world where ninja and samurai were commonplace would be like. Is his world filled with conflict and death? Ah, he's a Druid, a healer. Maybe he… doesn't like death-Wait, GM!
"Boss-sensei!" Akatsuki barked out, her body ready to spring into action. "You're a GM, so you know the game coding, correct?"
"Game co-Oh! That's right, code is used to make the game!" Naotsugu chimed, "I'm amazed a shrimp like-ACK!"
"Shiroe-dono, is it okay for me to knee this strange pervert?" Akatsuki asked, pointing at the down Naotsugu due to her knee hitting his face.
"Shiroe-dono?" Shiroe asked before realizing what Akatsuki said. "Ah, no, Akatsuki-san. Don't take what Boss says to heart. Though, I do agree it would be best if you join our party. Having an attacker would be a great benefit and it will be easier for you to avoid guilds with being with us."
"Hey! What about her kicking me?" Naotsugu cried, "And don't asked for permission after doing it, Shrimp."
"I do not answer to anyone, but my lord for I am his shinobi." Naotsugu recoiled when Akatsuki pulled out several kunai, the glint in her eyes showing she was dead on ready to use them on him. "I shall join your party, Shiroe-dono."
"Ah, roleplay," Shiroe sheepishly laughed before looking back at Las Boss. "Huh? What's wrong, Boss?" Akatsuki looked back at the GM, ready to use her blades on him when she was confused by the shocked face on him. He quickly made another hand sign.
"Henge no Jutsu!" Las Boss hissed to be engulfed in smoke and a pre-teen version of Las Boss appeared jumping out of the smoke. "The coding, that's the cause! Shiroe, write this down fast! The coding when weird just before I ended up here! The code-Agh!" The mini-Las Boss gripped his throat before collapsing to his knees.
"Boss!" Shiroe and Naotsugu ran over to the now pre-teen Las Boss. Akatsuki stood there, her eyes widen as Las Boss hacked up blood. He gasped for air between coughs, struggling to breathe as he clawed his throat. Las Boss motioned towards Shiroe, confusing Akatsuki before Shiroe quickly pulled out a vial from his magic bag. A Panacea potion, used to get rid of all bad status. Las Boss tried to drink it only to go into a coughing fit and seeming to hurl up blood.
Did… I cause this? Akatsuki thought, shocked at seeing more blood on the ground as the coughing got worse with the Druid trembling from the sheer brutality of the attack from within his body.
"Akatsuki, can you make a fire. Naotsugu, get the sleeping bags ready." Shiroe ordered, helping Las Boss stay upright.
"Y-Yeah, but what's going on? Freaky festival!" Naotsugu said, reaching for his own Magic Bag.
"I'll explain once we get Las Boss stable." Shiroe said, rubbing Las Boss's back as he had another coughing fit, blood dripping down the boy's face as Akatsuki realized his tears were blood as well. It was more than enough to get her to look around the overgrown yard for firewood from the trees growing around.
Minutes later, the fire was going with the four players sitting around it. Las Boss was washing his face with a wet rag and taking small sips of water from a canteen to not trigger another coughing fit. "Are you alright, Las? That was quite a scare festival." Naotsugu sighed, his own armor off to relax. "For a second there, I thought you were going to croak and end up reviving at the Cathedral."
"Ie… A?" Las Boss flinched, holding his throat with a grimace on his face.
"That's strike two." Akatsuki looked at Shiroe who was grimacing as well. "I remember just before the game turned to reality you mentioned you were looking for a bug in the game code. That means you saw the code just before we all ended up here." Shiroe said, getting a nod from Las Boss.
"So, the reason Las Boss was in a mute festival was because he knew too much?" Naotsugu asked, "Wait, don't tell me."
"Ue." Las Boss hissed, rubbing his throat while pulling out a notebook. He wrote on it before showing it. -Strike one was just messing with memory storing system. Blocking my voice is probably strike two, but I have it at strike one for being the only GM stuck here who has memorized the whole game code. Strike two was taking my voice for transformations away. Bet all my money strike three will remove the text boxes from me or worse. Not chancing it and going to write for the rest of the night to make sure.-
"Memory storing system?" Akatsuki asked, noticing Naotsugu confused as well.
"Ah, that's right. You usually do housekeeping part of games first like you do with Civilization." Shiroe said, getting glares from both Naotsugu and Akatsuki. "Ah, I apologize. Boss has a very impressive memory."
-Got near perfect memory. But, to keep it from overloading my brain, I gotten to where I really want to remember comes to me easy, stuff I would like to forget and can't goes to back of system and hard to bring back up.- Las Boss showed his notebook.
Ah, that would be why he was shocked before. I made him remember about the game code! Akatsuki pouted her lips, thinking. "Wait… Isn't the last strike with game accounts being banned?" Akatsuki gulped, realizing what she just had done. Is real death in this world caused through breaking the rules and being banished? And now Boss-sensei is one strike away from death?
-No clue, but I don't think so. It seems this world is set on keeping us alive. However, not chancing it.- Las Boss took off the page once sure it was read and tore it out. He balled it up and threw in it the fire. -Though, we can at least agree the code is connected to how we got into Elder Tales. The fact this world has a system to keep those with knowledge in check on that proves it.-
"Wait, isn't your menus different with being a GM?" Shiroe asked, worry written all over his face.
-Yeah and my Friend's List is acting up. I can't use it unless the person on my list is next to me. Oh, wait, there was something else I noticed- Las Boss shifted his hand in the air, working his menu only he could see. His eyes widen before scribbling into his notebook. -Look at your menus! Is there a link to the forums on it where the Settings used to be?-
"Forum?" Akatsuki asked, but open her menus. She noticed at the bottom a button with a box with three lines in it. She pressed it with her finger and she was shocked when a screen appeared and recognized what it was.
"The forums are still live!" Naotsugu said in shock before standing up. "And we had a Disappearing Festival from the real world! They have a thread announcing all the players who are trapped here! You're right, Tactician, NEET! There's over 30,000 people in Japan alone stuck in Elder Tales!"
Amazing. Akatsuki thought, finding the thread Naotsugu mentioned and opened up. She found herself on the thread, showing a picture of her real self next to her male avatar. It also had information of where she was last from family members and extra details on her. My family is worried about me...Ah, is Las Boss on here? Akatsuki thought, moving through the thread.
"Boss, I can't make a thread. Did they shut down the threads to keep people from flooding it?" Shiroe asked, making Akatsuki check as well. She only got an error with hitting the "Start Thread" button on the forum. She looked at Las Boss curious at what he knew.
-Let me check.- Las Boss then smirked, -I get it. They locked it down to only GMs and game employees can use it. And there isn't many GMs who were logged on, at least in their official accounts.-
Ah, there's a thread for just GMs. Akatsuki went to that thread and found Las Boss on the first page. "How many character accounts do you have?" Akatsuki asked, seeing thirteen characters on his post.
"You had those accounts active?" Shiroe asked before frowning. "My other character is showing. It could be showing all possible characters the player maybe stuck in. If the game developers have no control outside the forums, then they might not be able to get exact character information."
"Boss-sensei?" Akatsuki noticed the fear over Las Boss's face. He quickly wrote down on his notepad.
-Shiroe, contact Naruko and Sandaime Hokage through Friend's List.-
"Alright." Shiroe put his hand to his ear and yelped in shock. "Ow… I got some kind of static noise trying to contact Sandaime Hokage. It cut off, too."
-Try Naruko, then.-
"..." Shiroe sighed, keeping his hand to his ear while moving his hand. "No good. No answer."
A little relief appeared on Las Boss's face. -Then most likely those two are not in used and if I hit the third strike, I would lose Las Boss and turn into one of those characters. Probably losing some memories to keep me from getting strikes again.-
"That's understandable. Wait, Shika is your low level Cleric, right?" Shiroe asked with a serious tone, making Las Boss froze.
Why is he so worried? Akatsuki thought. Though, he could be just worrying on if other characters meant extra lives if he really does die or not. I only have this one. Akatsuki thought while looking over her body.
-Why?... Wait, don't tell me. Just contact her.- Las Boss bit his lip, seeming restless and scared. It was quite a difference than before as Akatsuki saw before. Almost an one-eighty to the proud jerk she was talking to before.
"You're scaring me." Shiroe said, finding Las Boss now leaning against his ear. "Ah, hello?" Shiroe asked, shocked.
Wait, he actually got an answer when the person is here? Akatsuki and Naotsugu got up and near Shiroe.
"Who is this?" She was shocked to hear a very soft voice from near Shiroe's ear. Akatsuki could not make out if it was a boy or girl, but it sounded like a pre-teen kid.
"My name is Shiroe. I am a friend of Las Boss. Are you Shika? Or at least, in the avatar Shika?" Shiroe asked, giving a glare at all three when he could. He tried to shift, but could not due to the three of them blocking him. "Could I have some space, guys?"
"Who are you talking to?" The voice asked, "I am in the body that is named Shika, though my full name is Shikamaru."
"I'm with Las Boss and two others. Can you tell me of your situation?" Shiroe said, frowning in uncomfort
"Do you know Naruto?" Shiroe looked at Naotsugu and Akatsuki, confused. "Is Naruto with you?" Akatsuki looked at Las Boss, noticing his confusion before his eyes widen in shock.
"Oi." Las Boss got their attention with a whistle from his lips before writing in his pad. -He's referring to me. That's my name.-
"Yes. Las Boss is his avatar and screen name." Shiroe answered, but Akatsuki looked at Las Boss. Las Boss gave a sheepish grin while putting his finger before his month to motion to not talk. "Can you tell me what is happening on your end? I noticed you're in a guild called Hamelin, correct?"
"It's bad." Shika whispered, seeming nervous. "We're trapped by a bad group that is tricking younger people into joining their group in exchange for so-called protection. They are working us like slaves and taking our EXP pots, whatever those are."
"You're staying quiet to make sure they don't hear you." Shiroe said, Akatsuki felt her gut sink as she realized why Las Boss was nervous. The Shika talking to Shiroe was not another Las Boss. It was someone else in Las Boss's character.
"Yes. I need to be careful. Sensei is trying to help us, but these guys are too strong for our sensei and the other guy with him to help us directly. Though I don't know why this group don't want them in the guild. I am glad Naruto is alright as we have been unable to find him the last few days. Can… you help us?"
"..." Silence filled the air as Shiroe furrowed his brows. Akatsuki looked at Naotsugu, noticing the grim look on his face. It was when they heard pen scratching on paper did the three looked at Las Boss.
-We will try. I have no idea what to do now, but we got to save them. It's my fault they are trapped in this world. They came to my apartment wanting me to return to school right when this happened. If I have to do it alone, I understand. But, I just landed them into the very shit game I left.- Las Boss gave Shiroe a determined face, completely serious and cold.
"You never change, Boss." Shiroe let out a sigh, getting a little bit of shock from Las Boss that Akatsuki noticed. "At this moment, I have no idea how we can help you, but we'll find a way. Wait, is there two other players by the names Minori and Tohya?" Shiroe asked, having looked at his menu with his free hand moving the air before him.
"Yes. Minori is next to me. Her brother is with the boys, Shiroe." Shika said Shiroe's name a little louder than the rest of the sentence.
"Shiroe-nii?" A soft female voice asked, almost not even noticeable to Akatsuki if things were not so quiet.
"I see. Thank you for let me know. Give us time to figure out how we are going about saving you. How many is there, along with Tohya and Minori, in your group?"
"Ten including Tohya and Minori. Plus one more if you count the girl who is a friend we made here. They keep several of us at the guild hall at all times to ensure we can't simply leave the guild even though I don't know how we can leave."
Those bastards are abusing newbies and keeping them from freely using the guild hall desk to leave! Akatsuki clenched her fists, trying her best to keep from attacking something. Even though Naotsugu's head looked like a good punching bag at the moment. And taking their EXP pots? Why would they want those pots? Are they trying to level up to ninety without the effort?
"I see. Can you gather information on the guild for us?" Shiroe asked.
"We've been doing so for Iruka-sensei and the other guy who ended up in this world as well. However, it is best I cut this short before I am heard." Shika said, her voice rough and trembling.
"Thank you. Figure out the best time to contact me, all of you. All ten of you have me on my Friend's List." Shiroe said, looking over the field of their base and towards the center of the city where the Guild Hall Building was at.
"Why can I not contact Naruto?" Shika asked, a hint of suspicious in his voice.
"Boss's Friends List is acting up. He can probably get people calling him, but cannot do the same to call others unless right next to them. Also, Minori and Tohya don't have him on their Friend List, so I work better as you all can contact me if something happens."
"Alright," Shika said, a reluctant hint within her soft tone. "But, what level are Naruto and you?"
"All four of my party is level 90. The level cap. Try to contact me tomorrow whenever you have the chance. The more information I can get ahold of, the better we can figure out a solution."
"Deal. But, is Naruto alright? Why haven't he spoken?" Shika asked.
"He's suffering from a debuff from a monster. We were training earlier today, trying to figure out how combat works. We ran into a monster we were not expecting and he's still suffering from the Silence debuff it gave him. He's been writing the whole night. Actually, quite a relief from the chatterbox."
-Screw you.- Las Boss shot a triple birdie with a well drawn hand doing the third birdie on his notebook.
"That's what you get for doing that wet willy earlier on me," Shiroe sighed before focusing on the call. "We are going to come and save you all. I don't know how we will do it or how long it will take, so please stay strong and trust me." Shiroe gotten a grunt of understanding before cutting the call with putting his hand down.
"I can't believe there are idiots doing this! Bad guy idiot festival to crash!" Naotsugu roared before getting a pebble to the forehead. "Las! This is not the time to hit me!"
-Calm down. We lack information, so jumping into this head on is a big no-no.- Las Boss tapped his book, his face serious. -Games are won by those who have knowledge and knowing how to use that information to maximum efficiency.-
"Indeed. However, Hamelin might not be the only guild doing this." Shiroe said, resting his chin on his hands. "Akiba is beginning to spiral down with no order. Rumors of PKing is beginning to spread, but the fact guilds have begun to enslave people…"
"Shiroe-dono. Can we go against a guild?" Akatsuki asked, trying to think of how to save the new players. All she could think of was ambushing the guild outside the city, but there was no means to get everyone out through that without problems. Another could be to infiltrate the guild, but that was tricky as well. They also have a guild hall that the enemy controls. Didn't the game allow control over the settings of zones own by players back when this was a game?
-Heh. This is a game Shiroe and I specialize in playing. The issue is we never done it this way before. Hence we need information and need to get a better understand of what works around here.- Las Boss grinned at the others. -However, we all need to agree on not mentioning the forums. If other players find out about it, then it could be trouble.-
"But, we can contact the real world!" Naotsugu said, "It's a discovery festival everyone-"
"Boss is right." Akatsuki looked at Shiroe. "It would cause a panic and people could get furious once realizing the threads are locked. Thankfully, the forum icon seems to have replaced the settings icon, so no one will be the wiser as they look the same. Though, this might be too big for us to deal with at the moment. Hence it is better to break it down to make it easier parts. Information is first. We'll fix up the base here tomorrow morning and then train tomorrow in our skills as we will most likely used them… Ah, wait, Naotsugu, Akatsuki, you don't have to help Boss and me. I don't want to trouble you with our problems."
"No way I am leaving that be with hearing that. Time for hero festival!" Naotsugu grinned, doing the good guy pose.
"Even the idiot has common sense. I would assist even if you were not my lord, Shiroe-dono. A shinobi protects the weak." Akatsuki said, though her elbow was right in Naotsugu's ribs while doing so.
"Gah! Don't do that shrimp!" Naotsugu yelped before they heard a tapping noise and looked at Las Boss.
-Oh, just did the one thing we can do at the moment.- All three looked at Las Boss in confusion.
"What did you-The forum?" Naotsugu asked while Akatsuki looked at the forum. Finding one thread updated titled [The Adventurer Diaries of an Alien Pioneer, a Las Boss Fic.] She clicked on it and was shocked with what she saw as the next post on the thread.
[This is not a joke post. Everyone missing since the expansion are alive. However, we are trapped in a world just like Elder Tales and acts much like the game. We cannot logout, but we also cannot die as we revive at the Cathedral if killed. For me, this is a perfect place to live since it is a game. However, things are starting to spiral out of control. It's not worst case scenario where I am at yet, but some players are turning this somewhat okay paradise into hell for other players. If anyone on Earth can give me information on what's going on back on that planet, please reply! We need to know more of what is causing this to figure out solutions. Well, for those who want to leave and those who need to leave. Thanks, Las Boss]
"You can post on the forum?" Akatsuki asked, looking at Las Boss.
-Yep. Though only that thread. It was made a closed thread instead of a locked one. I am the only one who can post on it, but they will hopefully unlock it with seeing that. I will put a new post up every day to make sure it is seen.- Las Boss grinned, holding up his notebook.
"Awesome festival! The developers might be able to get us out faster than we can save the kids." Naotsugu grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But, you're name is Naruto? Never expected your name to be fishcake. It's a Fishcake Festival!"
-Could you not call me by that. I prefer Las Boss.- Las Boss frowned at the knight.
"Don't think so, Naruto," Naotsugu chimed before dodging Las Boss's spear. "Hey, we haven't toggle off no combat actions yet! Royal Guard festival is one I do not want!"
-Then go die and revive.- Las Boss smiled innocently, even sending chills down Akatsuki's spine.
"Nasty NEET. You're nastier than beady eyes," Naotsugu pouted, crossing his arms as he sat on his sleeping bag. "And just realize we haven't eaten yet. Why does this world's food had to be soggy crackers?"
"I understand. But, we still need food or else starve." Shiroe sighed, becoming slumped and depressed like Naotsugu as both took out food for all of them to eat.
"Naruto-sensei, could you train me in your arts?" Akatsuki asked softly to avoid the others from hearing. However, she noticed he did not respond. "Naruto-sensei? Naruto-sensei?" She asked before realizing something, "Boss-sensei?" Las Boss responded, looking at her.
-Ah, yes. Sorry. Was deep in thought. Sure. I can easily teach you jutsu. All you have to do is make me your mentor with the mentor system and you will gain the base jutsu. We designed this system so players have to learn from each other as only people from the Noosphere Server will be able to learn Moon Scrolls and pass it on to other players through said system.- Las Boss sheepishly grin while holding up his notepad.
Akatsuki, however, was not fooled. "Sensei… You do not remember your name?" Akatsuki whispered to the Druid. Las Boss kept a grin on his face, but what he wrote almost made her serious composure.
-Nailed it. That label won't register in my mind either, so all I heard or think is nothing when I hear or try to think of it. I remember most of who I am, but bits are missing due to the first strike. Please don't tell the others as I don't want Shiroe to worry about me. He has enough on his plate right now.- Las Boss quickly took the sheet and crumbled it up. He threw it in the fire before joining Shiroe and Naotsugu, plucking an apple from Naotsugu's hand.
That's what he meant by affecting his memory system! Akatsuki trembled, trying to keep her fear and anger in check. How much has he lost? Is that why he is carefree? He no longer remembers his old world to care? The possibilities ran through Akatsuki's head before she realized something. Did it happen because I made him remember the code? Or did it happen when he got here?... If that is true… Doesn't that mean it can happen to anyone here?