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.
"So, you're not going to have your advisors join you for this meeting?" Jiraiya asked, watching as his sensei got chairs out and setting them before his desk. Even though the stacks of paperwork have been cleared somewhat, piles still lined the walls of the office. "And who is this meeting with anyways?"
"You'll find out in a bit as you're will be one of my advisers for this meeting instead of the council." Jiraiya paled at Hiruzen. "This meeting, though important, is more outside the military knowledge the council. I greatly respect Koharu and Homura's opinions, they are too militant to properly understand the type of situations this meeting will be going through."
"Hence using me," Jiraiya groaned, "You know I hate business matters like this."
"I am also having Tsunade, Madara, Tobirama, and Hashirama joining me. You all have the best understanding of the current situation." Hiruzen sighed as the door opened.
"Hey, Old Man, is it alright for them to be in on this meeting?" Tsunade asked, pointing at Baki and his two students following the Konoha shinobi into the office. Shizune also came into the office, though without Tonton in her arms with the two Hokage brothers and their friend.
"Yes. Though they will not be actively participating, I want them to relay what is talked about at the meeting to Suna as part of a new treaty to ensure Konoha and Suna stay as allies. I want to avoid conflict with other villages and such till we have an exact idea of what is going on with our world." Hiruzen said, finishing putting the chairs up. Jiraiya eyes widen with seeing Hiruzen's eyes suddenly turned to glowing blue pupils. "Ah, it's time for the meeting. Sorry if this is a bit rude, but I have to touch each of you for it to work."
"Touch us? What for?" Jiraiya asked as Hiruzen touched his shoulder. "Nani? What's this?" Jiraiya looked at the green screen that popped up in his face. It was asking if he wanted to join the link. Whatever a link is.
"Use your mind to hit yes. We need to be connected to Naruto's Hydra Link to get into the meeting since it is the only way to allow us into the special area." Hiruzen said, touching the others outside Shizune. "Shizune, can you keep an eye on our bodies while we are gone? It's mostly just to keep us falling out of the chairs."
"What do you mean?" Madara asked, his eyes glowing blue as everyone's slowly turned blue with accepting the box including Jiraiya. This is too weird.
Wait, how did he just speak without moving his mouth? Jiraiya thought before seeing everyone was wide eyed in shock. We can hear each others' thoughts?
Yeah. Hydra Link let me multi-box, meaning I can take control of other avatars or people's bodies now.Everyone looked around with hearing a new voice.
"Wait, Naruto?" Jiraiya asked, getting a smile from Hiruzen.
Please don't call me by that name. I go by Las Boss now. Naruto growled in everyone's heads, making everyone sweat. Also, can you keep direct talking to a minimum till you are logged into the private forum room? The downside of being connected to some many people is the echo I get from hearing one thing from several ears at once.
"It is best you all sit down." Hiruzen said, sitting down in a chair with everyone following suit. "I'll let Naruto explain how it works."
Alrightie. I believe you all know how to open menus now, right? Naruto asked.
Yes. Sensei told us how. Jiraiya sighed, finding it quite odd to think of what he wanted to say instead of outright saying it.
Good, go to the icon with several bars. That was originally the options menu, but it has been replaced with access to the forums and the new website to Elder Tales the world is turning it into. Jiraiya opened his menus and blinked at seeing the forum.
"Wait, people freely put information up on this thing?" Kankuro asked, dumbfounded with seeing the forum.
It is a public forum made so players could communicate with each other for various things like scheduling meetups in real life or get help for a problem when Elder Tales was still a game. Though, even the thread and whole forum system is changing, but I am glad I caught it being unlocked to relock the threads before anyone noticed the forums. Naruto let out a sigh in everyone's heads. It would be a real mess if people panic and began spamming the threads asking for help from Earth only to find that this forum is no longer even connected to the that site anymore from what the Old Man told me from looking on my computer.
"I see. You have control over these forums? How is that?" Baki asked, raising an eyebrow.
I'll explain once you're in the private chat room. Go to the top area where it shows private chat rooms. There you'll find one room accepting occupants. The Old Man already told me who will all be part of the meeting and already put you in. Just need to confirm and you'll be connected. Once all of you are here in the chat room, I can drop my Hydra Link as I am just using it to establish the connect with you all since you're all on a different server.
Alright. Jiraiya thought, finding the private chat rooms button on the menu and clicked on it. He saw a list of several names including several he recognized. Obito and Rin are there? Jiraiya thought in shock.
"Wait! Gaara is going to be part of this meeting!" Temari shouted, "Where is he?"
Oie, oie. Calm down. I'll explain everything in the meeting. Hurry and click on your name to join. You're the only ones not in the room and I rather not make everyone wait. Naruto said, sounding annoyed.
But, what's so big about this? Jiraiya thought, seeing his name and clicking it with his finger. His eyes widen in shock when the messy office he was in disappeared in an instant. He was now standing in a bright white space filled with many trees with a monstrous size tree in the distance. "Where am I?" Jiraiya asked, looking around and finding the others next to him.
"Hey! Over here!" Jiraiya looked to the side, realizing they were on some kind of platform made from roots making a bowl like shape and water on the ground. Before them was a good size table held up by roots and had root made chairs some of which occupied by people Jiraiya did not recognized except the standing Las Boss. The roots making the bowl shape also served as extra seating where several other people were sitting. Jiraiya saw the new bodies Kakashi, Iruka, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Shino were in along with an older version of Obito sitting next to Rin.
Amazing. So, even Minato's two dead brats he taught revived. Jiraiya thought as the group he was with walked over to the table. He noticed the blue sheen was gone from his eyes and no other thoughts in his head. Ah, he said he would drop the link, whatever it was, when we got here. But what is here?
"Welcome to the first Multi-Server Guild Meeting." Naruto chimed, saluting the group. "To make it so we keep this organized, we are making it so mainly one the leaders and co-leaders of the guilds if the co-leader wishes to be a part of it to be here at the main table while extra guest take the side seating. Since you're representing mainly Konoha instead of a guild, Old Man, you will have your students and one other person as your advisors, right?" Naruto asked, grinning.
"Yes. Tsunade and Jiraiya are my students and will be my advisors." Hiruzen said before looking at Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara.
"I'm the other representative for Konoha," Madara said, holding up his hand.
"Still say you cheated at rock, paper, scissors." Hashirama grumbled with a sulk, getting a glare from Madara.
"He won fair and square, so stop sulking." Tobirama sighed before they all heard splashing.
"Temari-nee! Kankuro-nii!" Jiraiya mouth dropped open with seeing Gaara, but as a little kid instead of the teenager he seen disappear before his eyes days before. "Yay! You're here, too!" Gaara chimed, standing happily before the three Suna ninja.
"G-G-Gaara?" Baki said, his stoic face filled with shock and horror.
"Gaara… Turned tiny?" Kankuro asked, a twitching grin on his face. His sister was simply speechless while Jiraiya looked over the boy. He was wearing a simple chest plate and had an odd shield and spear strapped to his back. The gourd he had also changed, now resting on his left hip on a holster belt.
"Noob, save chatting with your fellow ninja till after the meeting. We will be letting you have time afterwards to talk since they will have to head back to Suna and I can only connect my Hydra Link without touch with those who trust me and my main avatars like the Old Man here." Gaara nodded at Naruto. "You can sit with them if you want. The only reason we are not having Suna having a direct respective is due much of what we are going to discuss does not relate a lot to the ninja villages, but parts are important for you to give to your Kage once you return to Suna."
"Okay! Follow me!" Gaara chimed, grabbing his sister's hand and leading them over to where the other group was sitting. Jiraiya notice there were several other people he did not know sitting in the root stands: a short kunoichi, a man in full armor, a werecat dressed in gentlemen's attire, a boy wearing training samurai armor, a girl wearing an orange poncho, and a dark hair girl who matched the new profile picture of the mysterious kunoichi on Konoah's records.
Ah, right, her name changed from Naruko to Itachi&Kisame, but why does that name sound familiar to me? Jiraiya thought as Tsunade, Hirzuen, Madara, and he took their seats at the main table.Though, this is the weirdest meeting and it has not even started yet. Jiraiya looked over the table, seeing two older men wearing odd clothing, a beautiful cheerful woman with green hair and a large bosom, a office secretary looking woman, a young samurai, a woman with fox ears, and a man in glasses and a cape in the other seats along with Naruto.
"Now, before we start, let me explain a few things just to make it a little clear. Also, please hold off questions till the end of the meeting. We are planning to try and explain things as much as we can for the meeting, hence if you are confused at first, you might find things cleared up as we get further into the meeting." Naruto said, sitting down.
"Shouldn't we introduce ourselves first?" The bright, cheerful woman asked.
"We will in a second. Got to give a quick explanation so no one is lost with the intros." Naruto chuckled, "First, where we are at is a private chat room. The forums and website to Elder Tales is connected to our menus, but it seems to have formed an intranet where it now only works with those inside the game. Where we are at exactly is my mind which this world seemed to have dubbed the Pure Forest. A lovely place to set up its shop for the new forums and website in exchange of making it so I have control over the rules and such of the forums. All I can do is basically do like a normal moderator for the forums and possibly make others into moderators, but have yet tested that out. Won't be for a while as I will be keeping the forums closed so we can keep private chat room feature to ourselves."
Smart. Jiraiya thought, By using this, he drops the risk of us being heard by spies greatly. Though, it could be still possible someone like a Yamanaka using their jutsu to see into our minds to find out.
"Before anyone asks, yes, this is indeed my mind scape, a representation of my mind. Some people can get to the same place in their minds easily like me, most not. However, mine is now unique as it is an actual zone now made by this world, hence you can even trade items here and the person will have it with them when they return to the real world. Though, it limits the amount of items able to be trade outside food and food based ingredients. Our physical bodies are still in the real world, though you can eat here and it go with you. I am still figuring out how this all works, so it's best to just go with it for now," Naruto said, pointing at the several small snacks on the table. "Oh, yeah, before I forget, here Old Man." Naruto tossed a book at the Hiruzen who caught it.
"Thank you. It also includes how subclasses can be changed, right?" Hiruzen asked, putting the book on the table.
"Right. Though, it might take some experimentation to figure it out fully in the Elemental Nations." Naruto looked back the others. "Now, quick explanation for the guests here as some don't know the about the other. Guilds are formal groups and organizations of players back when Elder Tales was a game. Basically, guilds are like clans, but without the family and blood ties. For the flip side, ninja villages are larger than guilds, but work the same way. Each village has a leader often called a Kage and the village has a system that allows for missions to be taken on akin to how quests were taken in the game. Everyone with me so far." Everyone nodded at the table while the man in the white cape stood up. "Alright, then let's begin with introductions. I'm Las Boss. I am the second in command and treasurer of Log Horizon. I am also production chief."
"I'm Shiroe, the guild master of Log Horizon and research chief." The white cape man adjusted his glasses while speaking. "Log Horizon is a small exploration guild with 13 members." Shiroe looked at the samurai as Naruto and he sat down. The samurai stood up and did a slight bow.
"My name is Soujiro Seta, guild master of West Wind Brigade, a battle guild of 64 members." Soujiro Seta said before looking to the fox ear woman who stayed seated.
"The name's Nazuna. I'm a co-founder of West Wind Brigade and second-in-command." The fox lady, Nazuna said before looking to the oddly dressed old man.
"I'm Akaneya, guild master of Radio Market. Radio Market is a small production guild of 21 members." Akaneya said, adjusting his monocle and looking towards the bearded man.
"I'm Woodstock W, guild master of Grandeur which is a small guild of 31 with many of us focused on production." Woodstock W said before motioning to the pair of women at the table.
"Howdy! I'm Maryelle, guild master of Crescent Moon Alliance!" The greenish blond woman chimed while standing up.
"Maryelle, calm down." The secretary sighed before standing up as well. "I'm Henrietta, second in command of Crescent Moon Alliance and in charge of all Cresent Moon Alliance's accounts. Crescent Moon Alliance is a support guild with 26 members." Henrietta motioned towards the the ninja while forcing Maryelle to sit down.
Jiraiya looked to his sensei as he stood up. "I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, Third Hokage of Konohagakure. The man and woman to my sides are my students: the Toad Sannin Jiraiya and the Slug Princess Tsunade. The young boy on Tsunade's side is Madara, one of the representatives of the Revived Children, which might become Konoha's first guild with how things are going." Hiruzen said, "Shall I start off this meeting with explaining Konohagakure's part of this meeting?"
"Hai, Old Man. Oh, to explain, Sandaime Hokage, the avatar the Old Man is stuck in is my character. I based it off his younger self when I saw his photo in his office. He should really be an old man, but the Catastrophe has done more than just simply trapped us gamers in Theldesia hence why the Old Man is stuck in my character." Naruto said with a chuckle.
"Theldesia?" Seta asked, cocking his head.
"Theldesia is the name of the world Elder Tales is set in." Nazuna sighed, bopping Seta on the head. "Though, how old are you? You look quite young even though our faces match our old bodies."
"I understand with seeing some of the others who were transformed into Naruto's characters," Hiruzen chuckled, "I'm a proud 68 year old man. Though, I do enjoy not having the aches with this body."
Or you could be happy because you can trick people into thinking Asuma is you and escape paperwork that way. Jiraiya kept himself from shaking his head.
"Could we get on topic?" Shiroe asked, looking at Hiruzen. "Can you give us the basic state of Konohagakure to start off with?"
"Yes. That would be a good place to start." Hiruzen said with a smile, "Konoha is a large shinobi village that has been dramatically increasing due to the emergence of Shrines and monsters in our world which is the Noosphere. It is a temporary name, but works for explaining the situation."
"Wait, wasn't the expansion released was the Homesteading the Noosphere?" Woodstock W asked.
"Correct. The later part of the release that would be in the coming months if the Catastrophe did not happen would be the introduction of a new server. This would have been the Noosphere, a world where samurai and ninja are common place. However, it was more than just adding new content and player cities to the game. It was to be the first intergalactic connection between two worlds through Elder Tales." Naruto said, "However, instead, the Catastrophe also affected my world which is the very Noosphere mentioned. If the back story quest is correct, the two worlds will combine in the coming months or years."
"Ah, so you weren't a chuuni, huh, Boss?" Nazuna said, a bit of interest in her tone.
"Can't deny I am a chuuni, but my world does exist and actually proves Theldesia is also a real world." Naruto said, looking back at the Hokage.
Wait, the game is a real world? Jiraiya thought, pondering if the Hokage knew about this as well.
"We been calling what you call the Catastrophe as the May Incident. The very day Naruto and several others disappeared due to the game, Shrines appeared in every ninja village. Any ninja that died since then revives, though criminal ninja are unable to revive unless becoming a ninja of a village again. Any civilian of a shinobi village can also revive if a resurrection technique is used within a day of death. Add that monsters have also began to cover the lands and the very money we used turning into gold has resulted in many people seeking the safety of shinobi villages. This has resulted in Konoha's population to skyrocket and struggling to ensure we have the resources to feed everyone. However, this situation is the same for all the shinobi villages and it has been changing even the borders of countries as the villages have been growing, turning into countries instead of cities. The only reason none of the villages have yet gone to war is due to the monsters and the rumors behind what caused the May Incident." Hiruzen sat down.
Also, the monsters have thankfully help with proving extra labor, money, and resources, but not enough to hold up building tensions for long. JIraiya thought, looking over the people at the table. Most of the people had shocked looks outside of Shiroe and Naruto.
"As Hiruzen-san said, the Noosphere has also been affected by the Catastrophe. However, the Catastrophe has been found to be eliminating any possible threats to this world or Noosphere including killing all employees of companies working to make the server that would have been the Noosphere for Boss's and Hiruzen-san's world." Shiroe announced, getting gasps from all the guild leaders.
"But, does that mean Earth is just like Noosphere?" Akaneya asked.
"Sadly, all contact with Earth has stopped two weeks ago, including the forums as the Old Man managed to confirm through my computer back in Konoha." Naruto sighed, "However, the last contact message through the companies of both Earth and Noosphere gave us a clue on what is going on." Naruto snapped his fingers for several greenish boxes to appear. Everyone watched as the video, as Jiraiya found it to be called, found on Naruto's computer played on these screens.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Woodstock W asked, "Where did you get this video?"
"It's actually now on the intranet site and forums connected now to the forum button, but the Old Man saw it through the last email the main company sent, trying to figure out who posted it on Ustube on Earth. " Naruto frowned, "It's a lure to bring in more players. 700, 000 players worldwide are now on Theldesia. Even though there are many ninja villages and clans, the total population of ninja is roughly only 2, 000, 000 at a very generous guess."
"If the two worlds do combine, it would still make both the ninja and Adventurers the minority without adding the non ninja population of Noosphere into the equation." Shiroe said, putting his hands together. "We have been underestimating Theldesia. The NPCs are real people known as People of the Land. They have real lives, dreams, and emotions just like us. And they existed in Theldesia before us and helped us figure out how this system work for both worlds."
"For Theldesia, our avatars in the game Elder Tales were created into real bodies." Naruto picked up his glass of tea. "Though the computer, we would control our avatars and basically provide services to Theldesia inhabitants through the game. Hence to the People of the Land, we seemed like emotionless machines. At least, till the Catastrophe when our minds finally fused with our avatar bodies."
"But, what of Noosphere?" Jiraiya asked, giving a stern look at his god-son. "How could there be a system like this weird one in place without anyone noticing?"
"Alvs is the connecting point." Naruto smirked back. "The Alvs are extinct on Theldesia, but much of their backstory at least gives me enough of a picture of how they connect in this for Noosphere. Roughly 1, 000 years ago the age where Alves still existed was going on and it was peak magic and technology for Theldesia. This was when the Alvs realize the threat of Noosphere colliding with Theldesia from the back story I was working on. It is also roughly 1,000 years ago when Noosphere gains chakra and other important things that led to the current age of ninja. What if what happened 1,000 years ago for Noosphere was a failed beta for what happened to Theldesia to make it as it is now?"
"A test?" Maryelle asked, cocking her head.
"Correct. It always irked me with seeing Earth's advances and comparing it to Noosphere's, seeing we should be at least matching in technology instead of so behind. Then it hit me with seeing Theldesia. It's exactly like Disboard from No Game No Life." Naruto adjusted his glasses. "People were so focused on trying to survive due to the changes of their world, much of them kept themselves from advance technology wise depending on the wins and losses to their race. Noosphere has been forced to do the same through constant wars, though not due to the system, but I think you all can get the picture. But, the two worlds seemed to have made a deal. Noosphere can only fuse with eliminating the very causes of those wars and tension, though seems it also has to give them a second chance in a really twisted way in my opinion."
"Disboard? Jiraiya asked, "What is this No Game No Life? Also, isn't stopping the constant wars a good thing? Many of us shinobi and kunoichi have been striving their whole lives to stop the conflicts plaguing our lands. Yet, you are saying, that's a bad thing?" Jiraiya glared at the man. I don't think that is Naruto.
"It's not that it's bad. It's the way it is done is bad." Naruto turned, looking at Gaara. "Most of Gaara's memories are currently either blocked or erase through logging in. Probably all the bad memories he had with being a human sacrifice, which are a lot of them." Everyone at the table went wide eye. "The same goes with the clans and events, the two worlds are forcing peace and not giving us a choice. The strike system is still in place and as a result of hitting two strikes with trying to tell Shiroe the computer code, I am now mute outside using my Hydra Link and in my mind like now. I am not sure that same strike system will be to punish any Adventurer who tries to go against this world to destroy it and the last strike is a complete memory wipe or worse."
"S-So we can't look for a way back to the old world?" Maryelle asked, terror in her eyes as matched by the others.
Ah, now I see why Naruto wanted us here. Jiraiya thought, What is going on applies to both the people of our lands and the Adventurers. If we try to solve what is going on and reverse it, we could be eliminated in a sense.
"Ah, sorry, I am using destroyed in a broad sense, but it's actually a pretty strict and narrowly defined rule. It is basically breaking down the natural rules of this world that causes the strikes. There is now laws for Adventurers in Theldesia. You can pillage and destroy the lives of both Players and the Land of the People like Brigandia has done in Susukino as well as created magic and items never seen before in Theldesia yet no strike will fall on you. Hence, finding a way back to Earth is still possible. However, it also means Theldesia's current reality must be left intact as well what the Noosphere is becoming. But, this also brings into question our own effect on the two worlds." Naruto adjusted the glasses on his nose, the glare blocking his eyes.
"As I said, there is no laws at the moment in Theldesia outside that strict natural one. Do not take the Royal Guard's stopping combat actions in the city as such. It is just a defense system and many Adventurers have found ways around it to harass and harm bother Adventurers and the NPCs in deeper ways and that could result in us damaging our relationships with the People of the Land. To put it bluntly, we are newcomers to this world, yet we are treating the inhabits like trash. Isn't that instant war if we were not able to revive?" Naruto smirked, sending ice down Jiraiya's spine.
This kid… He gives me vibes Orochimaru gave me. Jiraiya thought, a bit fearful now of his god-son's mental health. But, he's right. Even now, the villages have been very keen to keep from stepping on other villages' toes. Mostly due to not wanting to lose out on a deal that could help ensure they don't run out of resources. But, from what Naruto said, the Adventurers have no system up and they are just doing what they want. I can see how this is going to get messy.
"I came to realize that the People of the Land are not AIs anymore." Akaneya said, getting everyone's attention. "Many of been coming to my guild for items, saying they were too scared to buy from the larger guilds. They are more human than we are now. However, even now, they are frighten and confused by the situation we have created without know. If we allow Akiba to keep getting worse, then the People of the Land might end up believing war is the only answer even though they know they could be wiped out by battle guilds."
"However, the issue is several guilds still believe this is a game. I believe outside of the Konohagakure representatives, you all know of Hamelin, correct?" Woodstock W asked.
Hamelin? Jiraiya thought. What is an Hamelin? Jiraiya thought, feeling the grim air around the guild leaders. And I don't like where this is going.
"Ah, yes, That is a perfect example to bring up since this is something the shinobi villages should realize." Shiroe said, standing up as Naruto sat down. "People who are level 30 and below are able to get every day an EXP Pot. This item increase the attack power and recovery rate of the person who takes it for two hours as well as gives an EXP boost. It was design by the game developers to allow beginners to level up faster to better enjoy the game with how high the level cap has gotten over the years. Ah, for the ninja here. EXP is short for experience. As you fight monsters and complete quests in Elder Tales, you gained experience and once you have enough, you leveled up. This increased your stats and allowed you to gain more skills the more you leveled up."
"I see. So, in a sense, the levels show a direct connection of strength with level 90 being the highest, correct?" Hiruzen asked, Jiraiya knowing Hiruzen had taken note Tsunade and he was at level 60 while Madara was level 30.
"Sadly that is incorrect." Henrietta sighed, standing up. "Though the levels do determine strength and such, the level cap rose in the expansion to 100. Boss-san's level proves it as hit broke 91 and 92." Jiraiya looked close to Naruto's status bar and was shocked to see she was right. Naruto was level 92, but his HP and MP was monstrous compared to all the other level 90 people there.
Holy crap? Is that what we should expect if we hit past level 91?Jiraiya asked.
"Ah, Henrietta, using me as an example is kind of bad. My HP and MP is horribly off due to this world transferring Kurama's HP and MP to mine to properly kill him and properly make reviving him later easier. Though, many people will simply think I was put on Raid Boss duty again as a GM, hence no one outside this meeting will know any better." Naruto said, winking at the secretary.
"I understand, but why is these EXP pots and levels so important? For military wise, I can see it important to have many high leveled soldiers at your command, but it does not seem to fit with this meeting." Hiruzen said.
Indeed. This meeting was not to hit military. If it did, Sensei would have brought his militant counsel instead.
"Guilds like Hamelin are taking advantage of low level players, basically enslaving them." Shiroe stated, giving a cold look to the ninja. "West Wind Brigade managed to save five of the beginners who were trapped and being force the fight to farm zones for supplies. From what we gathered, Hamelin alone has been using force to keep the beginners under their control. They have those who have good offensive stats hunt all day and then keep other players crafting all day, all so they can sell the goods and services along with EXP pots to guilds. This includes Black Sword Knights, a large battle guild of 186 members, and Silver Sword, a large battle guild of 220. Both guilds have high level players, especially Black Sword Knights where they restrict membership to only level 85 or higher. They want to break level 91 and increase their strength as fast as possible since they still see this as a game."
"Wait a second! You're telling me these people are enslaving people and think it's just child's play?" Tsunade roared, standing up and slamming the table, making it crack under her strength.
"Ow!" Naruto groaned, holding his head. "Please refrain from attacking the furniture! This place really connected to my mind, so any damage, though it will heal, will hurt my head. This was part of the reason I have the forums shut down till I can figure out how to control the settings where it will allow proper use without having headaches. Literally." Naruto sighed, getting an apologetic look from Tsunade before shocked seeing the damage on the table repair itself.
"However, Shiroe is correct. Many players began to PK… Ah, I mean murder other players simply for fun when the Catastrophe happened. Though such acts have dropped, now Akiba is has fallen into a rank system. The large guilds have control over the markets and the best hunting grounds. It makes Akiba feel like a prison." Maryelle said, crestfallen.
"Didn't you people exist in a world where death was real before? How can you act like that?" Madara asked, his tone steady even with the fury in his eyes. "Even though I revive, I can still remember putting three of my four brothers into the ground before being revived. Death is not something to take lightly, even when you can revive!" Madara bit his lip, trembling to keep his full fury out.
"35 gold." Naruto stated, confusing everyone. "A cheap meal is 5 gold. And cheap inn is 15 gold. Hence with other items, basically survival only requires 35 gold coins if you in saving a little each day to repair equipment long term. You can easily gain that through fighting 6 to 7 goblins, an easy feat even for low level Adventurers. Oh, Old Man, have any of the Chefs in Konoha tried using the menu to make cooked items?" Naruto asked, looking at the Hokage.
"Though the menu? You can cook using these confusing lists?" Hiruzen asked as Naruto touched the air before him, a sign of him using his menus.
"Yes. In fact, as of now outside this group, all the Adventurers only know you can make food through the menus. Those without cooking skills or a high enough level that tries to cook normally result in making good. However, if you have cooking skills and use the cooking skill menu-" Naruto smirked as a small pizza appeared in his hand."-you can instantly make a cooked item. This also works for other crafting profession. But, there's a problem."
"Problem?" Jiraiya asked as Naruto pushed the pizza down the table to the ninja. "It actually smells good." Jiraiya said before noticing the depressed looks on everyone but the ninja that came with Jiraiya's group. "What's with those looks? It's just piz-" Jiraiya took a bit of the pizza. "N-Nani? W-What is this?" It taste like nothing! How can you eat this?
"It tastes like cardboard." Tsunade said, chewing her bite, "The texture is odd, too, but it is not edible. I've had a lot worse with being a medic. But, this is depressing to eat, for sure." Tsunade sighed, finishing her slice while Madara was sticking his tongue out. Hiruzen managed to eat his slice as well, but his face was grim.
"Exactly." Shiroe said, "With survival secure and food not even worth eating outside just so you don't starve, everyone has no point of living. Hence why many have resulted to such acts. They are either just trying to find something to turn this slow torture that is boredom into something meaningful or they refuse to seeing Theldesia as a real world but as either as Elder Tales or a lawless world they can do anything with. However, there is no laws, hence I can see how some could see this."
"But, what about these snacks. You could have just have us try these instead of making that pizza." Madara sighed, taking a small sandwich and biting into it to prove his point. "Wait, this has taste?"
"Correct. Real Food Preparation, which all off Noosphere probably automatically used. It is where you forgo using the menu and cook like a normal person would before the Catastrophe on Earth or the Noosphere. That is the only way to make food with taste. Chefs and those with high cooking levels are the only ones who can make new foods." Naruto chimed.
"However, even without being a chef, people can raise their cooking and other crafting skills on their own. You can season your food and it has taste due to you have one experience in cooking. Keep seasoning and you'll level up your cooking skills and the more cooking abilities and such become available to you. This system was part of the game of Elder Tales called the Exploration System. I know it well due to my sub-class is the title Crafting Sage. It is one of the special title classes gained by leveling up all your crafting type skills and unlocking special quests till completing the Craftsmen's Sage quest and gaining the Sage's Traveling Atelier, which serves as a craft shop on the go and a pretty damn good bag." Naruto said, pointing at the traveling chest on his back.
"However, we are the only ones who know this at this moment in Akiba." Woodstock W said, "But why have you asked us to keep this a secret, Shiroe-san? Also, I know this might be wrong to ask now, but part of the reason we called this meeting was to form an alliance to try and stand against the large guilds and deal with guilds like Hamelin. This meeting seems to be going far from that."
"Of course. Because forming an alliance just to go against the large guilds will do nothing but worsen the problem." Naruto chuckled, "Hence Log Horizon is proposing the formation of the Hidden Leaf Trade Alliance instead of a small guild alliance as you tried before."
"Trade alliance?" The guild masters murmured in silence while Hirzuen nodded.
Ah, so that's his plan. Naruto can allow trades through his mind, so Konoha can actually trade with Akiba. This will allow Konoha to gain items not available to just the area, but also not from this world. This in turns give the members of this alliance in Akiba unique items to sale to create an economy.
"Hai. This is why I asked we did not share the discoveries my guild made." Shiroe said, pulling out several reports from his bag and put them on the table. He pushed them to the guild leaders and ninja. "The alliance's goal in Akiba is to raise 5 million gold." Everyone, even Jiraiya was shocked, at the mage.
5 million! Jiraiya thought in horror, everyone but Shiroe and Naruto gapping at the amount. How in the worlds will you raise that much in gold, let alone money!
To-be continued...