Authornote- Due to possibility of working Friday this week, I am doing a day early release. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
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.
"Nee-chan, I'm sorry," Serara whimpered, tears forming in her eyes. She held a rag on the large bruise forming on Naruko's arm. "Because of me-"
"Not your fault," Naruko said bluntly, looking at Serara straight in the eyes. Though, she had trouble seeing out of one eye with it still swollen. "I got in the way."
"But I'm the one who dropped the food!" Serara shouted, throwing the rag to the side. "You keep getting hurt because of me! I'm just-"
"It's alright." Naruko said, ruffling Serara's hair. "Better me than you. Level 90." Naruko frowned with seeing tears go down Serara's face. Poor thing. She really is too kind for her own good... Agreed. Though, I am amazed with this weird world that we only got out of that last beating with bad bruises... Don't remind me. I rather not think of how this can get worse... This coming from the guy wanting to smartass the culprits for our condition... Hey, if it got worse, I want to go down rubbing it in their faces... You do realize we can't die in this world, right?
"Nee-chan, are you alright?" Naruko jumped, snapping out of her thoughts. "Were you spacing out again, Nee-chan?" Serara chuckled, confusing Naruko.
"No." Naruko said, her frown deepening. Wait, did that little gaki call us Nee-chan?... I believe she did. Didn't Serara-chan called us Naruko-san? Naruko sighed, making Serara pout with poking her forehead. "Just tired."
"Oh. Then I should let you rest," Serara said, oddly joyful compared to what she was seconds before. "If you're not ready when they come, then they could hurt me instead." Naruko had a chill go down her spine, seeing Serara evilly smile.
What the heck? Wait, illusion expert, are we in a genjutsu?... I no longer have the Sharingan, but this could be an illusion. Naruko bit her lip, keeping her eyes on Serara. But who could do an illusion? If I remember right, there isn't many illusion based abilities, especially complex ones outside my own genjutsu... I don't know. Can't figure out how anything works in this world of menus and numbers.
"Nee-chan, you really should pay attention," Serara grabbed Naruko's bruised arm. Naruko's eyes widen as Serara body was bloody and covered with wounds. "The skeletons just want as much of a piece of you as the living."
"Serara," Naruko gasped when another pair of hands grabbed her free arm.
"There is ways for criminals to be punished other than death." Naruko looked back see a small boy with dark hair grinning at them as the futons and sheets beneath her turned into hands, reaching out at her.
"No, stop." Naruko recoiled, trying to escape. "Leave me alone! Stop touching me!" She found her legs and lowers body grabbed and looked at the faces filled with hunger and madness. "NO!" Naruko shrieked, sitting up to find the room swaying around her. She trembled, her body oddly soaked.
"Oh no! Here!" Naruko felt something pushed into her lap and hands, but did not bother to look. She heaved, finding not much coming up from her burning throat. "Made it in time. Oh, dear," Naruko gasped, weakly looking to the side to see a blushing, but worried Serara. "N-Naruko-chan, how are you feeling?"
"Horrible..." Naruko groaned, a wave of nausea hitting her. It only worsen as her memories came back to to her, making her grip the bucket she found was what she puked into. "Serara-chan... Did they...To you..." Naruko felt her throat go dry, tears coming to her eyes with realizing what all happened.
"No, they only ripped my clothes before you used that fire attack and explosions to stop them and we ran to escape," Serara said, rubbing Naruko's back. "It's alright. We're safe for now. Eek!" Serara squeaked when Naruko hugged her. Naruko sobbing, gripping onto the young Druid.
Thank goodness. The same thing did not happen to her...Yes. Serara-chan is safe. Naruko thought, trying to focus on the positive. However, she realized the sheets beneath moist . Wait... That can't be all sweat... Naruko blushed before her sobbing increased, It feels so wrong... I'm scared... I feel dirty... Am I safe from them?... I even wet myself with how weak I am.
"Naruko-chan, calm down," Naruko jumped, finding Serara's ruffling her hair. "We are safe. I called Maryelle-chan. She is preparing a rescue party to come save us. I am weak, but I will do everything I can to help you. You done-hic-way too much to-hic-protect me." Serara hitched her breath, trying to fight back the tears.
"I don't deserve it," Naruko whispered, trying to control her trembling body with letting Serara go. This is what Hell is... The crimes I did are coming full round...Unlike the lives I ended, I don't have the mercy of death ending it for me... I don't want Serara-chan to end up suffering for my sins.
"You're the one who doesn't deserve what has happened to you!" Serara shouted, snapping Naruko from her thoughts. Serara's face, however, instantly turned red. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to shout," Serara backed off bowing in apology.
Naruko stared at Serara before chuckling. "Huh?" Serara blinked at Naruko before she burst into laughter. "W-What's funny?"
Serara-chan... Thank you... Even if you wrong, maybe I can push through with your thought, breathing hard while calming herself down. She pushed herself out of bed, finding even though she could stand though she felt tired and dirty. He body just wanted to collapse onto the floor even though she wanted a bath and fresh clothes. "Thank you, Serara-chan."
"Ow!" Serara yelped when the blond hair girl standing only a foot over her flicked her in the forehead. "W-What was that for?"
"Ah, sorry, I used to do that to my brother." Naruko chuckled, "Though you're too cute even when distressed."
"You're teasing me?" Serara gasped, shocked at the girl before. "Wait, you're speech is different." Serara said, a perplexed look on her face.
"My speech?" Naruko asked, "I am speaking like I normally do." Naruko said, rubbing her throat. Maybe I was screaming from nightmares or something... Yeah, my throat hurts.
"That's it. Before you were blunt and a bit stiff. I was expecting you to be even more... silent after what happened." Serara said, looking down.
"I was-" Naruko's eyes widen. Wait... Before I had to agree on... Wait, what is my name?... Same to me, it's Naruko... That's not right. My name is Naruko.
"Naruko-chan?" Serara asked, moving to catch Naruko as she was trembling too much and almost collasped to the ground.
"My name... My names," Naruko mumbled, gripping her head in panic. What's my name?... Sasuke! I remember my brother!...Wait, is he my brother?...I don't know. Ah! I get it! My memories are too mixed!... But I can still think separately in a way.
"You're names?" Serara asked, getting the panicking Naruko's attention. "Isn't your real name Kisame Itachi? I remember you mumbling them while still in bed with a fever."
"Kisame... Itachi?" Naruko asked, That's right! That's my names!... Wait, which one is mine? Wait, why can't I think... "No way... The trauma..."
"You lost your memories?" Serara asked, panic welling up in her own voice.
"...No. My memories are intact." Naruko steadied her voice, realizing what the issue is. "I'm technically one person now."
"Huh?" Serara blinked, cocking her head in confusion before noticing something behind Naruko. "Oh! Welcome home, Nyanta-san!"
"Ah, Naruko-chi is up, nya," Naruko jumped up and bolted to behind Serara to hide, nearly being the girl down with struggling to bend her legs without falling. Naruko looked over Serara's head to see an adult cat humanoid wearing what looked to be a causal gentlemen's attire. However, her eyes focused on the two swords on the cat man's belt.
He looks like the ninneko I've seen... Ah, he must be of one of the other races I haven't seen yet. But, he feels oddly familiar... Probably because of the ninneko I am experienced with. Naruko thought, but it did not help ease her nerves. She found she had somehow gotten her menu for skills and spells ready without noticing till now.
"Are you still...Oh, I apology. I entered at a bad time, nya." Nyanta said, having sniffed the air. "Shall I prepare a bath for you, Naruko-chi?"
"That would be great, Nyanta-san!" Serara chimed, "I'll help Naruko change into something else while you do that and gather the sheets."
"I was asking Naruko-chi, Sweetie. Are you giving me the cold shoulder due to not staying in touch, Naruko-chi, nya?" Nyanta asked, opening his closed eyes a little.
"You know me?" Naruko asked, confused at the odd speech pattern of the Werecat. Or is it a rouse... Though... He sounds like he is from Kumo... But actually quite polite... So weird...
"Of course. You used a reed to play with me all the time, nya." Nyanta hummed, smiling while holding his chin.
This was a game with fake characters till a few days ago... How the hell did I play with you like a cat? Naruko thought, frowning before realizing what the man was saying. "You know Naruto-kun?"
"Naruto-kun?" Serara asked, confused. "Nyanta-san, do you know Naruko-san and is that why you helped us yesterday when Naruko was knocked out?"
I was knocked out? ...Oh, yeah, one of the Brigandia's members hit me with an attack... Nyanta-san must of taken advantage of the Royal Guard appearing due to the attack to get us out of there. Naruko thought, though frowning, But, if he knows Naruto-kun, is he one of Naruto-kun's agents?
"Ah, so that's my partner in crime real name, nya? What a fine name for a young lad like him, nya." Nyanta said, nodding, "Are you his girlfriend? You two must be in that wonderful stage of youth. I find it quite sweet he was having you play one of his married avatars, nya."
"You played with-Wait... Naruko-chan's married!" Serara shouted, looking at Naruko in shocked.
"I am?" Naruko asked, confused before shaking her head. "Ah! No! I am not married to Naruto-kun or dating him! I am a guy and I was investigating him," Naruko then blushed with realizing what she said. Did I seriously just say that!... Agh, did what happen loosen my lips?... This is one hell of a fail for a ninja like myself-I mean. Dammit, forget it.
"Let me guess. He finally gave up on being a ninja, correct?" Naruko looked at Nyanta with shock. "It's a pity his dream was crushed, nya. Part of the job of the youth is to dream. However, he also had a stable job with Elder Tales he could fall back on, nya."
"How can a game require a twelve year old to raise the funds that could run a small country?" Naruko asked, narrowing her eyes at Nyanta. Naruto-kun had already a spy network and easily every village after his head for just the information he gather on the layout of the villages... There's no way he was using the money he collected through building up businesses and creating new technology to make a game.
"Games these days, especially MMORPGs are costly to make. Even free-to-play models take nearly a million or more to make and keep adding content." Serara and Naruko gapped at Nyanta. He chuckled at their expressions, "It is why Elder Tales is a subscription based model MMORPG, nya. Though, I can understand since your world is a bit behind compared to ours. Even if Elder Tales did not add new content, Boss-chi would have to still have the hardware and software build to make it so people can play the game in that world. It can easily go into millions and billions of dollars depending on how he wants to start the game out in your world, nya."
"That much!" Serara gasped in shock, actually backpedalling from hearing the cost.
I don't know what a dollar is, but my god, who has the money to put that into any kind of game?... Rich bastards? Naruko thought, her own eyes widen in shock. And what kind of fucking game needs that much money to make!
"Video games use more than just rules and game pieces to give you a fun time, nya. Many tell a story by using music, beautiful graphic, backstory, and more to bring you into the very world the game is set in. It's quite an interesting process. Boss-chi, though a GM, often works as a concept artist for Elder Tales, designing the new items, monsters, and dungeon content we are now living in, nya." Nyanta said, smiling at the girls.
"Wait, if he worked on the game, maybe he knows what's going on?" Serara asked, hope springing up in her eyes.
"Probably not," Nyanta said, frowning some at both girls, "Though Boss-chi can program code, it's not his forte, nya. If it weren't for that near perfect memory, he would be quite terrible at it in fact. But, he's a smart boy and might have possible ideas of what cause this, nya."
"Is that why you saved us? Because you thought I was Naruto-kun?" Naruko asked, fear welling up. He could be like them.
"No. Recusing the youth from danger is part of my job as an adult. Protecting ladies is also the duty of a gentleman. It seems Brigandia has forgotten this, nya." Nyanta chimed, doing a slight bow. "I apologize. I forgotten to introduce myself since you do not know me like I thought. My name is Nyanta. Level 90 Swashbuckler and an old friend of Boss-chi, or as you know him as Naruto-chi, nya. If you were not him, then he is in one of his other characters. Most likely Las Boss since it is his favorites, nya."
"He plays multiple characters?" Serara asked while Naruko was still trying to understand what Nyanta meant by characters.
"He is a multi-boxer. Or he plays multiple characters at once when it was a game. He actually finally gotten to be able to play a full party of characters by himself when I last conversed with him, nya." Both girls looked at Nyanta with shock. "One of his nicknames among players is the Puppeteer or the End Game Boss for the fact he is also know to take on full on raid bosses with just a party with maybe one or two other players and also a raid boss at times when need be, nya."
Naruto-kun, what the hell have you been doing without Konoha knowing? Naruko thought, dumbstruck at the cat man before her. She at least knew what a raid was from hearing other people talking. Wait a second. He's been meowing the whole time... Could it be? "Nyanta-san, did you always have that verbal tic?" Naruko asked, pointing at the cat man.
"Don't all Werecats speak this way naturally, nya?" Nyanta asked, "Ah, that is right. You're new completely to Elder Tales. While playing as the character you see, I would roleplay as if a real cat. I guessed it just became a form of escapism, nya." Nyanta sighed before opening his eye. "Why are you asking Naruko-chi?"
"I'm actually two people in one body," Naruko admitted, noticing Serara's eyes widen. She's probably just realized what my odd behavior before was... Don't blame her for the shock. "Yet, now, I only think and act like one person. I can't remember who was Itachi or Kiame before, even though I still think in two lines of thought."
"And you believe the game is the cause, nya?" Nyanta asked, his eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Ah, thinking of it more, you might be right. Serara-san is only at level 19 and still creating her character in this world when it became reality, nya. We are both in well established characters at level 90, including character traits and habits. Even though you're wary of me, you are acting much like how Boss-chi played Naruko. A young lady who goes for the facts and spreads rumors. At least with the little I seen so far, nya."
"And it would explain why Bringandia are acting the way they are. Were they a bad guild even before this reality was ours?" Naruko asked, gulping with realizing her worst fears. And that means there are others who will be like those men elsewhere... I can't fight like in the old world to protect myself.
"Yes. Boss-chi was the one who kicked them out of two player cities before they moved here to Susukino, nya." Nyanta said, "But, even if the game is affecting their behavior, they still choose their own actions, nya. Though, Naruko-chi, should I prepare a bath for you? I think a young lady like yourself would like to clear herself off after sweating hard with a fever."
"Ah..." Naruko blushed, hiding behind Serara. "Y-Yes. A bath would be nice." I almost forgot... Yeah. But I also want to scrub myself down... Not that it will make things better, but it could help a little.
"You both are welcome to stay here. I own this home, so they can't use the Friend's List to locate you as long as you stay in this zone, nya. I shall prepare a meal once I have the bath ready. Some good soup should help soothe your stomach with not being able to keep anything down for the past day, nya." Nyanta said, giving a gentle smile to the two girls. "It will be nice to have company at the table instead of just myself, nya."
"Nyanta-san..." Serara blushed, smiling back.
"So, you like old guys, huh?" Naruko asked, giving Serara an annoyed look. We just escaped Brigandia and you're going to trust a guy we just met?... I have my work cut out for me if I want to keep this girl safe till she gets back with her guild... Maybe I could join that guild? It sounds like there aren't too many men to worry about... True. But if Naruto-kun is here, I need to find him... Maybe the guild could help us find him?
"Ah! No!" Serara shrinked down, panicking in embarrassment. "He's just a good guy!"
"Yeah. And maybe you want to be in bed with him?" Naruko asked with a smirk before her eyes widen. Wait? Did I just make a sexual joke even with what has happened to me?... Maybe it is how I am dealing with it?
"Eek! No! No!" Serara shook her head. Her face so red, Naruko was expecting steam to come out of her ears. "He's a gentleman! What girl doesn't like a gentlemen?"
"But a cat gentlemen is a bit stretching it. You like the fact he's a cat more than a gentlemen?" Naruko teased, pinching Serara's cheek. Hey, this is actually fun... Did I tease people like this before?... I think I did a little, but not like this way. More like battle puns in the middle of battle.
"Aah!" Serara hid her face in her hands, mumbling her shouts of embarrassment.
"Ha ha!" Nyanta chuckled, making Naruko blush with realizing Nyanta was still in the room. "You really do act like Naruko I know, Naruko-chi. And it seems you get along well with Serara-san. I am thankful to see this as I was a bit worried for Boss-chi. He has no one from his world playing Elder Tales when I talked to him when he was using Naruko here to gather supplies a few days ago, nya. Well, I will let you two play, nya." Nyanta chuckled, leaving the room.
"Ah..." Serara deflated, "He must think I am a little kid."
"Of course you're a kid. You're a little loli." Naruko sighed, Not that I am different as I am short, too... I missed my old height... Wait, Las Boss? Naruko focused hard on the menus that were still opened and managed to find the Friend's List. I remember hearing a ringing before. Was he trying to use the Friend's List to contact me? Naruko used her mind to look through the list only to find it frizzing when she got near Las Boss. Huh? Oh, it must be due to my body issue. It's still adjusting... Las Boss is logged on and in Akihabara. Naruko reached up to touch the small tag, but stopped her finger near it.
"Naruko-chan, what's wrong?" Serara asked, noticing the distraught look on Naruko's face. "Ah, you have Naruto-kun on your Friend's List?"
"Yes... And he probably won't bother coming if I asked for his help," Naruko said, closing the menu. "He knew I was spying on him and he could of easily disposed of me back before we were trapped in this reality. He probably did not do it so he could focus on Elder Tales with no issues like two S-rank criminals being found dead in his village."
"You're a criminal?" Naruko looked at Serara. She was frowning before shaking her head. "You may have done bad things, but you're a really nice person. I can tell."
"I have... killed a lot of people. Even my own family just to keep peace in the villages I came from," Naruko said, looking down at her hands. "I even became a criminal just to serve my home as a spy and keep secrets hidden. That is the life of a ninja that Naruto-kun knows all too well. Even now, he is probably keeping low to avoid issues like in the old world. He wouldn't risk his own life to save someone trying to dig into those secrets of his for information and other means. Especially since he knows my past and even my weaknesses when I was still two people."
I don't even know what he would act like in this world... He was so quiet and focused in his apartment, yet was loud and annoying when still going to the academy... He also purposely never met his spies and such directly, always indirectly through a special kind of radio and other technology. Naruko thought, realizing Naruto could be in a similar situation like here and had no room to help others. Actually, with thinking about it, did Naruto-kun even speak when I was observing him outside of radio use?... Ah, I get it. When he gave up on being a ninja directly, he gave up on human contact as well... Much like some of the others the group have done... Like I did...
"He's probably lonely," Naruko raised an eyebrow at Serara. "Sure, it sounds scary with what you are saying, but I don't think he would simply be a hermit with how young you both said he was. Maybe the reason he was trying to get Elder Tales up where you were at was so he could finally have friends," Serara chimed, "And you sound lonely, too. You can't go around life alone. It only makes you miserable!... Ah! I'm sorry! I don't mean to say you're in the wrong... But, I'll be your friend. Especially with how much you done to protect me." Serara smiled at Naruko, trying to keep her cheeks from lighting up.
"Serara-chan," Naruko smiled back, her body relaxing from the stiffness she had kept the whole time. "Are you also into yuri? What a naughty girl." Naruko chuckled, putting her hand to her mouth to hide her amused smile.
"Nonononono," Serara shook her head in a frenzy, "Don't tease me at a time like this!"
"But you're too cute when flustered," Naruko hummed, And it's too fun... But, thank you, Serara-chan... Maybe, if things change for the better, we can be friends.