Authornote: Howdy! The good news is my personal business is over. Bad news is my posting schedule is changing. Partly due to my internet router dying a slow death, but also due to my work schedule is changing. So far, looks like it will be either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday when the new weekly post day will be. In fact, the next few weeks, the posting date will possibly be sporadic between though three days even though I will be keeping up posting weekly. This is the last Friday post, but hope to getting a new weekly posting going pretty quickly once my work schedule becomes set again. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and have a great weekend!
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 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.
"This world is too cruel." Akatsuki studied the now Itachi&Kisame, trying to figure out what had just happened to the girl.
"Did you make sure to think of your old body? Or a new form based off the old bodies since you're two people?" Shiroe asked, looking at the dark hair girl before him and studying as much as Akatsuki at the girl. She was the same as the old Naruko, except her hair was now black and her eyes auburn color.
"Sort of. I roughly went male as I gotten used to this height." Itachi&Kisame whined, comical tears going down her cheeks. "Why did only my name, hair, and eyes changed? and the last one is not even right."
"Why did you increased your breasts?" Akatsuki asked, glaring at the slightly large breasts the girl now had. Why didn't I think of doing that when I used the Appearance Reset Potion?
"I was going for the down below to where it's not too big or not small so I could be comfortable as my old bodies were not as lucky." Itachi&Kisame grumbled, her face turning pink. "Wouldn't you take the chance to change that if you can?"
"True, but I thought those potions only changed the physical features, not names?" Naotsugu asked.
[Ah. I think I know what the issue is.] Akatsuki looked at her sensei, seeing him laid out on a bed made of hay. He was rummaging through his magic bag. [Itachi&Kisame's tags are showing her gender has been marked permanent, so I think that allowed the potion offer name changing in the place of her unable to change her gender.]
"Tags?" Akatsuki asked, cocking her head. Like in tags used for searching stuff online?
"Ah, that's right. Elder Tales used an invisible tagging system to sort everything. Including if you become famous in a village, hence triggering special events and such with getting such tags." Shiroe said, nodding in understanding. "Though, why Itachi&Kisame?"
"Itachi and Kisame is my first names. I guessed it just went with them though I don't know what the symbol means." Itachi&Kisame sighed, shaking her head. "But, could the reason that tag is due to… You know?" Itachi&Kisame asked, shivering while looking down.
[Most likely. It is clear you become at least afraid of men, so the game thinks you don't wanna be one. It might change as time goes as tags change constantly depending on what is going on] Naruto let out a sigh, putting both his hands into the bag. [It's how I figured out why I am in pain and hence why I asked Nyanta to pick up as much aspirin he can get from the NPCs here.]
Ah, that's right, Nyanta-sensei and Serara went out to buy supplies. Akatsuki thought, looking at the barn they were staying in. They managed to get to a NPC village called Arb just before a storm settled into the area. The village chief allowed them to stay in the barn for the night for a small fee. Though, I am amazed there is a village in the middle of nowhere and farms no less. I would expect people to live closer to the major cities where they can have protection in this world.
"Ah, still no change in the pain levels, huh?" Naotsugu chuckled, "Well, guess you're just having a karma festival for all your trolling."
"You're the troll, Trolltsugu," Akatsuki said, glaring at the knight.
"Do you realize who you're defending, Shrimp?" Naotsugu asked before yelping and ending up pinned to the barn wall by Akatsuki's kunai..
"My, my, you're a lively bunch." Akatsuki turned to see the village chief walking in with two kids.
"Ninja!" Akatsuki recoiled, finding a little girl and boy ran up to here.
"A ninja!" The girl chimed as Akatsuki slowly began to move away.
"Throw a shuriken!" The boy said before a shuriken shot pass between them and into the wall. "Huh?" The kids looked at Itachi&Kisame.
"Would you like to see more?" Itachi&Kisame asked, showing several shuriken in her hands while grinning.
"So cool! More more!" Both kids went to Itachi&Kisame who got up and moved to a clear area to show them shuriken throwing.
Thank you, Itachi&Kisame-chan. You saved me. I am not good with kids. Akatsuki let out a sigh, patting her chest in relief.
"I apologize for their behavior. We don't have many people visit here in our little village." The village chief chuckled. "Though, may I ask how your mute friend is doing? I get the spare room ready for him if he needs something a bit better than hay."
"He's fine. The aspirin really did the trick to help his muscle aches." Shiroe said, getting a thumbs up from Naruto though his head was looking into the bag. "Ah, I almost forgot. Is there any quests in this village?"
Quests? Akatsuki looked at Shiroe before her eyes widen. That's right! There has been no quests since we ended up in this world.
"Ah, you just missed the harvest season when we have Quests. The monsters gotten used to when we have food, hence we have to hire Adventurers to help protect it." The village chief sighed. "Though, if you come back around the next harvest in a few months, then there will be quests. It's pretty peaceful here, so we have to rarely hire out for help except for those times."
"That's in a way good to hear." Shiroe said, smiling at the man. "Also, I am thankful to you for allowing us use of your barn."
"It's no problem. This hay is stored for the winter, so it is not doing much else." The village chief chuckled. "Though, if you can tell some of your tales of your journeys, that would be nice. We People of the Land rarely leave the lands we work."
"We have plenty of stories of our adventures!" Naotsugu chimed, doing a thumbs up.
"Ah, let me get some tea-ACK!" Akatsuki blinked, seeing Naruto standing behind the village chief. "Oh dear, you gave me a bit of a heart attack. Are you an Assassin as heard of?"
[No. Just a sneaky Druid. Do you have a furnace for making tools?] Naruto asked with a textbox, Akatsuki noticing the scroll in Naruto's hand.
"Ah, yes, it's actually in the workshop in the back of the barn. We usually use the other one when using this barn for hay storage, but you can use that one if you want to." The village chief said, blinking when Naruto walked towards the workshop. "Is it alright to let your friend work when he is not feeling well?"
"He'll do it even if we try to stop him. He seems to gotten to itch to craft for some reason." Shiroe sighed, "Ah, could you get the tea? We will be moving the table where we can make sure our friend does not hurt himself." The village chief nodded while walking over to a small stove in the barn for boiling water and small cooking loft.
Akatsuki followed Shiroe and Naotsugu as they went into the workshop. Akatsuki blushed with seeing Naruto had his shirt off and gotten fire going in the furnace. Items were laid out on the work table, showing some kind of weapon based off animal dropped items.
"Hm? Where did you gotten these items?" Naotsugu asked, looking at the items. "These are pretty high quality."
[Kurama dropped them when he died.] Akatsuki gulped, her mouth going dry.
So, his friend dropped items like monsters did. Is he making a memento to remember his friend by? Akatsuki thought.
"Wait, how can there be items from Kurama when he never existed here before?" Shiroe asked, frowning at the Druid.
Ah, my Lord seems like he misses Sensei. Maybe he wants to- Akatsuki stopped herself, managing to look away. No! Do not ship your Lord and Sensei!
"Are you a fujoshi?" Akatsuki instantly froze, a chill going up her spine. She slowly turned to the side to see a smiling Itachi&Kisame. "Ah, now that I look at Naruto-kun, he has a good body. But, who are you pairing him with? Naotsugu-san… Or do you have a thing for glasses and nice looking guys?" Akatsuki's face turn beet red.
"Nope." Akatsuki said, looking away from the dark hair girl.
"Hey, hey! What is he making?" Akatsuki went wide eyed, seeing the two kids on her other side.
She's using my weakness! Akatsuki thought, looking back at the grinning Itachi&Kisame. "I believe Sensei is already taken. My Lord told me he has been trying to date another girl who happened to be in this world." Akatsuki said, smirking back.
"Actually, with what Serara said, Naruto-kun and I are married."
"Wait! Really!" The little girl and boy ended up squeezing Akatsuki between them as they excitedly looked at Itachi&Kisame. "Did you have a wedding? With a cute dress?" The girl asked happily, her eyes filled with excitement.
You evil little bitch! Akatsuki thought, hearing Naotsugu laughing behind her back. Even Itachi&Kisame was giggling at her. I will get you back. I shall avenge my pride.
"Sadly, it was a small wedding. Naruto-kun is a bit of a cheap." Itachi&Kisame sighed, looking at Naruto. She only frowned seeing Naruto simply hammering red hot melt. "Ah, I hoping to tease Naruto-kun, but I gotten a perfect target here." Akatsuki shivered under the predator smirk from the girl.
She's just like that lolicon! Akatsuki thought, fear welling up.
"We're back!" Akatsuki looked behind her, seeing Serara and Nyanta looking into the little workshop. She saw the table that was in the barn was moved to where it is near the door to the workshop.
"Ah, Serara-chan, back with you own hubby!" Itachi&Kisame chuckled, instantly making Serara blushed. Akatsuki sighed in relief as Itachi&Kisame left her along and began to tease the little Druid with the kids following.
"For what she's been through, she's quite an animal." Akatsuki grumbled, depressed with letting Itachi&Kisame get under her skin.
"Ah, Naruko has been always like that. At least how Naruto played that character." Akatsuki looked at Naotsugu, holding an apple out for her.
"With the trauma Itachi&Kisame-san went through, I can see how the game imprinted what Naruto originally made the character to be." Shiroe said, somberly frowning.
"Wait, what does that mean, beady eyes?" Naotsugu asked, giving Shiroe a mean look.
"It's exactly as I said. It seems how we acted in our avatars reflect now. Since Boss, Naotsugu, and I act much like our normal selves when playing the game, it took me a while to realize it. I also thought how everyone returning to their game personas was just escapism till seeing Itachi&Kisame-san and Nyanta-san." Shiroe said, looking at Akatsuki. "As Boss said, the tags are in effect and that can include personality traits."
"So, Akatsuki acting like a brat ninja is because of her tags-Ack! Not in the ribs…" Naotsugu grumbled, holding the ribs Akatsuki grabbed her elbow into.
"Not exactly, but it is probably why Itachi&Kisame-san is doing better considering the trauma she went through. Though, that might change due to the personality was Naruko's which now she kind of no longer her."
"Ah! That's right. The potion changed her name and possibly her tags. Identity crisis festival is possible in the future?" Naotsugu asked, Akatsuki noticing a little worry in the Guardian's face.
He's referring to us? I have always been into ninja and material arts, so I been this way and just acted more ninja like. Akatsuki thought, but frowned at her own worries. Ah, can I love someone else if I am so focused on my job as a ninja?
"We might be safe, but other players who act greatly different from their real selves might," Shiroe said before Itachi&Kisame walked back over, Nyanta and Serara drinking tea with the village chief and his grandchildren.
"You're right. Though, that could also save people. Even though I was freaking out as Naruko, it at least kept me together enough to recover. Though, if what you said is true, then hopefully my old personalities will begin to come back."
"What were you like Itachi&Kisame-chan?" Akatsuki smirked, getting a frown from Itachi&Kisame.
"Well, one of me was a quiet, personal person who preferred to avoid conflicts. The other me was a very sarcastic, hot blood man who loved to fight good opponents and tear them apart. I have a bad sense of morbid, dry humor from both." Itachi&Kisame chuckled at the pale expressions she got from the three.
"You're opposites, yet living in one body." Naotsugu sighed, shaking his head.
"I did bicker a lot before, but compared to other pairs in the group we worked for, we had the best teamwork." Itachi&Kisame said, looking back at Naruto. "Though, when did Naruto-kun become a blacksmith?"
Sensei is good. Akatsuki thought, her eyes lighting up with seeing what looked to be a spear forming out of the metal Naruto was working with, now combining the claws to form the bald. Ah, that's right, he has multiple crafting skills due to his subclass.
"Boss has also been a crafting type RPGer. If there is a recipe or method to making an item, he has most of those memorized for Elder Tales." Shiroe said, though watching as Naruto cooled the metal. Naruto held the now spear up, studying it and showing eight loops on it.
"Ah, but doesn't Naruto also designs some of the weapons and armors as well?" Naotsugu said, "So, he probably can make any weapon with that kind of knowledge."
A ping made them looked up to see Naruto putting on what looked like tailed onto the rings. [Don't confuse an artist for a blacksmith. Though I do have those blacksmith skills now with my subclass, I was horrible with blacksmithing in the old world. I tried several jobs before the Old Man forced me into the academy.]
"Ah, I now see why you crafted so much now." Shiroe sighed, looking over the spear. "Wait, is that flavor text, right?"
"Flavor text?" Akatsuki asked, looking at Naruto as he held the spear which was finished. It was a silver toned metal with eight red tails coming off with a blood red blade to match the tails. The staff showed thing black slices, showing it was like his current weapon and able to break apart. However, Akatsuki's eyes widen when she found she could see the information of the weapon. Kitsune's Ninth Path: Phantasmal-class spear created of ghost beast that has passed. It's tails and blade can be controlled completely by the contract owner. The reborn beast is bound to the owner of the blade. Once summoned, the two brothers shall never be apart again as bound by the contract.
"Reborn beast? Wait… Don't tell me." Naotsugu said, gasping at the blade.
[In my world, chakra is combined from the energies called HP and MP in this world. Yet, here, it is separated. What if this world killed Kurama not to remove him as a threat, but so it can give him a body and separate his chakra to do so.] Naruto spun the spear. [This blade was to replace the legends around Kurama and his siblings. Yet, I hadn't even finished the back story or designs for them.]
"So, does that mean with Kurama's remains, you got the summoning scroll as well?" Shiroe asked before everyone noticed Naruto's shock expression.
"It did not drop such a scroll." Akatsuki stated while Naruto nodded. "Maybe is uses the spells you made and just need to adjust them." Akatsuki mused before shocked when Naruto grabbed her shoulders.
[BRILLIANT!] Akatsuki paled at the grin on Naruto's face before he let her go. [That's why it stopped me from using any spells till Kurama died! And also why all his HP and MP was transferred to me! It was so the world could make the body at the lowest amount from Kurama as he had way too much to do it when he was alive!]
"Ah, slight problem. Do you know how you might possibly summon Kurama?" Itachi&Kisame said, raising her hand to stop Naruto.
[Roughly, yes. This is a contract item and hence makes the Druid's companion summons what Kurama's is. I just have to use Force Summon as a base and work it out.] Naruto grinned sheepishly at the others. [It might take some time along trial and error, but… I want to bring Kurama back. He deserves this new world more than me.]
"Do it in the barn. I'll put out the fire." Naotsugu chuckled.
"Ah! No, outside! Kurama is easily the size of a mountain!" Itachi&Kisame panicked, making Akatsuki gap.
Sensei had such a huge beast inside him! No, Kurama is not a beast, but a intelligent kitsune. He is also Sensei's friend. Akatsuki thought as Naruto nodded, walking out.
"Excuse me, may I ask what is going on?" The village chief asked, his grandchildren and himself confused. "What is your friend about to do?"
"Ah, he's practicing a summoning. Just as you have to learn the skills to live off the land, we have the learn and practice our skills to fight." Shiroe said, managing to cover up the conversation with an unsteady voice.
"Oh. But, isn't he not in good condition?" The boy asked. "He was laying down a lot, so is he sick?"
"More like overworking himself. Though, considering the cause if overdoing with a spell, using up his mana could help relieve the pain." Shiroe said, recoiling a little from the questions.
Seems my Lord is also weak against kids as well. Akatsuki thought, "I am going to watch Sensei to make sure he does not hurt himself."
"G-Good idea. We can't have Boss kill over on us with being only a day away from Akiba." Shiroe said, smiling at Akatsuki.
"Yes, sir." Akatsuki said, blushing before disappearing before the group and reappearing right at the door of the barn. She could hear the children's gasps and shouts of awes from where she was at.
"Force Summon: Artificial Resurrection!" Naruto shouted, holding out his staff for a green magical circle to appear on the ground before disappearing. [Dammit. That one became a zombie spell.]
"Zombie spell?" Akatsuki shivered, I don't like zombies.
[There are items that allows temporary revival that is not a true one. It's often used in raids depending on the rules of the raid or if they are very damn close to defeating the raid boss. This spell turned into a resurrection spell that allows the person who gotten revive to fight for 30 minutes before getting instant death.] Naruto sighed, biting his lip as he thought.
"Ah. I hope you never use it on me," Akatsuki said as Naruto held his staff again.
"Force Summon: Kitsune Arise!" Naruto shouted, an orange spell circle appearing and little kitsune of energy appeared from it. [Ah… Got a kitsune, but not Kurama.] Naruto tired again, getting a few more kitsunes without Kurama.
"They are like him from before. Maybe they are cousins." Akatsuki said as the kitsunes flocked to them, looking at them
[And if I remember my research on the summoning jutsu in my world, many contracts at least with animal summons allowed for the whole family to be summoned. It just depends on the amount of chakra. So maybe the mana works the same here.] Naruto sighed, holding out his spear again. "Force Summon: Kitsune Arise!"
"Ah… Akatsuki, I see you made some new friends." Akatsuki sighed while looking at Shiroe, petting one of the several kitsunes cuddling her, a little one sitting atop her head. In the past hour, the best Naruto could do was change the size of kitsunes from little to the one almost the size of Shiroe sitting next to her side.
"He's really worked up, huh?" Naotsugu sighed, seeing Naruto had moved out into the rain due to all the kitsunes now taking up the barn opening.
"Wouldn't you do the same for a friend?" Akatsuki asked, getting shocked looks from Shiroe and Naotsugu.
"Ma, ma. That is true, nya." Nyanta walked up holding a bowl of soup. "Though, it is also good to keep your friend from becoming sick doing to being soaking wet, nya." Nyanta moved around the kitsunes. "Boss-chi, take a rest for the night, nya. I have some soup to warm you up so you don't catch a cold, nya!"
"Agn!" Naruto roared in frustration, slamming the spear into the ground and scaring the newest kitsune he summoned to disappear. Akatsuki could see Naruto's heaving, his body limping with fatigue.
"Boss, let's stop for now. Once we get to Akiba, we can visit the library to research and see what you might be missing." Shiroe said, though Akatsuki could hear the somber tone in Shiroe's voice.
Everyone doesn't want him to fail. They want to see Sensei happy. Akatsuki thought, looking down at the kitsunes. I wonder what it is like for others who had the beasts sealed inside them? Did they live a horrible life like Sensei?
"Dimet! Force Summon: Kurama!" Naruto roared in anger, a huge magical circle appearing on the ground before breaking apart. "Krawn." Naruto grumbled, falling backwards right into the mud and panting hard.
"And mana is now zero." Shiroe said, his voice cold. "I'm not giving you any MP Potions till tomorrow. Get out of the rain and dry off."
Naruto just did a bird at them. "A-Ah, is he alright?" Serara stuttered, coming up and seeing Naruto's gesture.
"He's in mourning. Even though the item says Kurama might revive, it might not possibly be true as well." Itachi&Kisame sighed, "I can understand what he is feeling at the moment. I've lost friends, siblings, and comrades on the battlefield."
"Naruto, need me to help you up? Or you enjoying the mud bath?" Naotsugu chuckled before they saw the textbox of random symbols. "Ah… I think he's more mad than in mourning. Should we let him cool off before letting him come in?" Naotsugu asked, seeing Naruto getting up only to let out random noises of anger with slipping and falling right on his face.
"Yeah. I think this is one of those time where letting the friend catch a cold would do him some good. You can control griffons, right, Itachi&Kisame-san?" Shiroe looked at Itachi&Kisame.
"I can. Though with Naruto's attempted of escaping the mud, we might need to let him rest a day due to a really bad cold." Itachi&Kisame said, watching as Naruto slip again.
"Oh, dear. I best make some broth for soup tomorrow." Nyanta sighed while Akatsuki got up, the kitsune's disappearing with Naruto's mana depleted. She walked out into the rain and kneeled down next to Naruto.
"Sensei, do you need help?" Akatsuki asked, looking straight at Naruto's face. He covered it with his arm, but she saw the tears. Ah, that's why they were being jerks. They were letting him cry before coming in.
[I'm fine. Leave me alone.] Naruto tried to stop a hiccup, unable to stop his sobs.
"Sensei, you're not okay." Akatsuki sighed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "But, you're not alone. We can help you. I mean, what student am I if I don't help my sensei?"
"...Tha…" Naruto grumbled, sitting up and shaking his head to hide the tears. [I just don't like becoming other people's burden. Kurama's death is my fault and I should be the one to fix it.]
"And you'll make it our burden if you get sick." Naruto recoiled, getting a glare from Akatsuki. "So, let's you get inside before we find out if Adventurers can get sick in this world."
[True… Hm? Are we having a fox wedding at night?] Akatsuki looked at the text box before looking down to see a glow on the ground.
"Akatsuki! Boss! Move!" Akatsuki looked at Shiroe before catching sight what he was warning of them of. She looked up just in time to see a complex magic pentagram before it disappeared. "It disappeared?"
"What was that?" Akatsuki asked, noticing Naruto also looking up in confusion before they saw a dark object headed right for them. Naruto pushed Akatsuki out of the way and right into the mud.
"AGH!" Akatsuki closed her eyes just before the mud splatter her face with a loud splat.
"Mud explosion festival? Are you two alright!" Naotsugu shouted as Shiroe, Nyanta, Itachi&Kisame, and Serara followed the Guardian out of the barn.
"I'm fine." Akatsuki said, wiping the mud off her face before opening her eyes. "Ah… But, Sensei is knocked out by a kid."
"By a kid?" Shiroe asked, the group reaching her. She was looking straight out of the out cold red hair boy that was no older than eight years old, yet had a huge gourd bigger than him on his back. A bushy sandy tail with reddish rings that matched his red ears twitched, the boy groaning and just as out cold as the Druid beneath him.
"Is that Kurama?... He's tiny." Naotsugu said, shocked at the little kid.
"It's a tanuki, not a kitsune." Akatsuki said, getting odd looks from the others. "His tail and ears are of a tanuki. He also has a calabash gourd." Akatsuki gave them a dull look.
"Wait, can you flip him over?" Itachi&Kisame asked which Akatsuki raised an eyebrow. However, she tried to pick the little boy up and instantly blanch with pulling, but he barely budge.
"He's… heavy…" Akatsuki grunted before finding Naotsugu next to her and helped her.
"Holy panties, he's really heavy. No wonder Naruto's out cold." Naotsugu said, helping Akatsuki put the boy on his back. He then pulled Naruto out of the ground, mud coming out of him open mouth. "He's going to be wondering why he has a bad taste in his mouth tomorrow."
"That is Sabuku no Gaara." Akatsuki looked at Itachi&Kisame whose eyes were wide with shock. "He is the human sacrifice for the-Ah, the one tail Tanuki. However, he should be going berserk right now as it is well know from our information that his demon is able to take control of him when he sleeps."
"He's from your world?" Akatsuki asked before noticing something. "Love?" Akatsuki saw the red tattoo on his forehead and noticed the dark rings around his eyes, making him look like a tanuki even more.
"It's how I knew it was him, the tattoo, but he should be around Naruto-kun's age. Not a kid. He's a Gennin with one hell of a track record of not even being scratched on missions due to his unique defense made from the sand he keeps in that gourd." Itachi&Kisame stated, looking over the boy. "But, I don't sense any foul chakra. Also, why did he just appeared? It was clear Naruto and the others were possibly the only ones teleported to this world."
"I don't know, but let's get them out of the rain." Shiroe said, grabbing Naruto's arm. "Itachi&Kisame-san, help me with Boss. We can ask Gaara-san once he wakes up after his skydive onto Boss." Itachi&Kisame nodded, helping Shiroe carry Naruto back to the barn.
"Alright, Shrimp, let's get this kid into the barn." Naotsugu grinned before seeing Akatsuki had Gaara on her back and left the gourd behind. "Little cheater… Damn! This is heavier than my armor and shield combined!" Naotsugu growled while trying to drag the gourd.
"Hm. That's what you get for calling me Shrimp." Akatsuki smirked before hearing Gaara grumbled.
"Uncle Yashamaru… Why does… everyone hate me?" Akatsuki blinked, looking back at the boy to see he was sleeping.
He was hated like Sensei as well… But why does he have a tattoo for love on his forehead? Akatsuki pondered, getting the boy into the barn and praying both her sensei and the boy would be alright in the morning.