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.
Where am I? Kurama thought, walking on a beach with a glowing light blue sea. Is this death? It's oddly peaceful. Kurama let out a sigh, continuing down the beach before stopping and looking up at the sky. He saw the world within the night sky.
"So big… Is that where Naruto-nii is at?" Kurama sighed, feeling the smile on his face. "I actually feel quite small seeing it from here. I hope Naruto-nii is alright. I kind of miss him already." Kurama chuckled before noticing a slight blue film before it breaking and seeing what looked to be glowing bits of broken glass floating up.
"Something… is missing." Kurama said, blinking before feeling his body getting lighter. "Huh? What is going on?"Kurama asked before looking up and his vision turning white.
Where am I?... And what was I dreaming?Kurama thought, finding his vision filled with black.
"Shiroe been worry sick about Naruto." Kurama ears twitched, hearing a voice. "But, then again, their peas from the same pod. They are both villainous closet perverts who wear glasses."
"Even I can't answer that. At best, we guess this is more of the changes Naruto mentioned in the alliance meeting."
Who's talking? And why is it so dark? Kurama thought, deciding to try and move. Huh? Why do my arms and legs feel so weird? Don't tell me I was resealed into someone else!Kurama thought, tears forming in his eyes at the thought. I don't want to be sealed again.
"Ow… How long I been sleeping next to Boss?" Kurama froze, hearing a voice right next to him.
"Just for a few hours. Huh? Were you working while watching over him?"
"No, why do you asked?"
"Would you all shut up?… My head is killing me." Kurama's eyes lit up with hearing a familiar voice, though it was very soft.
Naruto-nii! But why is his voice so squeaky?Kurama thought, trying to locate the voice.
"Boss, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Alright other than my head hurts-Wait, who is speaking in a scratchy chibi voice?... Crap. It's me, right?"
"Yeah. It's you, Mini-troll. But, cool you got your voice back, though… Your body is..." Kurama heard someone snickering.
"Lovely, just lovely. Didn't just have to change my race, but had to change my body, too." Naruto said as Kurama managed to get where Naruto was situation in the darkness. "Anyone else got it?"
"Sasuke gotten a little shorter and has horns like you, but still normal compared to your change. Everyone else who passed out just had minor changes."
"I see. So I guess this world thought it would be a great idea to be an ass just to Sasuke and me."Naruto sighed, "Not that I can really go against it with what's it's trying to fix. Hm? What's the lump in my bed? My clothes?" Kurama noticed movement and realized the darkness was caused by something on top of him.
That means,Kurama got onto his paws, "Naruto-nii!" Kurama launched right where he heard Naruto's voice and collided with something.
"What the hell?! It's a blank attack festival!" Kurama found himself trapped within some kind of flexible object, trying his best to escape while hearing panicked shouting.
"What the hell is this? Get it off!" Kurama was blinded by light when the object that had captured him finally let him go. "K-Kurama?" Kurama blinked, his eyes adjusting to his surroundings. "No way, Kurama, is that you?"
Kurama looked up and found himself staring right into a child like face of Naruto's he seen before. Kurama's eyes watering up with just recognizing it. "Naruto-nii!" Kurama glomped onto the boy, letting the tears falling at the relief he felt. He is safe. He made it out of that situation with no problems. Thank goodness.
"Wait, that's Kurama?" Kurama jumped and froze with hearing the other voices. He stiffly turned his head to see several other people in a small, rundown room. "It's tiny compared to what Itachi said he would be. What is this? A fairy festival?" A man in metal armor said.
"Well, the world has been adapting us to its rules, so I guess it made the tailed beasts to a more, ah… Manageable size?" A man with a cape said, giving Kurama a sheepish look.
Wait, they are bigger than me! Kurama thought before looking at his own front paws. He found he had small paw like hands and realized his whole body had changed. It was still with reddish orange fur, but he had a more bipedal form compared to his huge one. However, it was when he looked at his tails that he really panicked. "My tails are gone!" Kurama yelped, seeing only one big puff ball of a tail. "My beloved-Ah, oh…" Kurama sheepishly laughed when Naruto moved his tail some, showing it was not one tail, but all his tails curled together.Heh heh. Oh, that's right. I chose this form… Wait, when did I chose this new body? Kurama pondered before seeing Naruto get out of the bed.
"Odd how I still have muscle memory even though I am really short now." Naruto sighed, Kurama looking over his former host's body. Naruto now tiny, barely clearing the white cloak man's hip in height. He was holding onto a robe that as covering his body. "Though, I don't got time to tailor my clothes. We still gotta finish setting up for opening tomorrow. I wonder if I got anything in my chest that will fit me?" Naruto pouted, his bluish markers turning purple from an annoyed blushed. Kurama noticed the markings were different, now with what looked to be tomoes where the circles were before when Kurama saw Naruto.
"Still in work mode, huh?" The cloaked man sheepishly laughed before seeing Kurama looking at him in confusion. "Ah, yes, that's right. You haven't met me. My name is Shiroe. I'm a friend of Boss," The man said, leaning down some.
"The name's Naotsugu. Nice to met ya little guy!" The armored man said while Kurama noticed a scar nosed man standing back some. "Hey, come on Iruka, greet the little guy."
"Ah…" Kurama frowned, feeling uneasiness and fear coming off the man. "Hello. I'm Iruka. I was Naruto's sensei in the academy." Iruka said, forcing a smile.
I don't feel any hate off him, but he is hesitant of me… Can I trust him? Kurama thought before having a shiver go down his spine. Where is this horrible fear coming from?
"Ah! My L-Lord, is Boss-sensei alright?" Kurama looked at the doorway, finding a dark hair girl standing there, slightly trembling.
"Yes. And Kurama is alive again as well." Shiroe said before Kurama mouth went a gapped with seeing the source of the girl's fear.
"Akatsuki-chan, where do you think you are going?" A tall woman with glasses chimed, making the girl jump out of the doorway. "Come here, I need-" The woman looked over at Kurama and Naruto.
"This whole day is being an asshole." Naruto said, Kurama trembling in his own fear with seeing the woman's eyes lit up. "Kurama. Run to the right. I'll take left. Bolt like your life depends on it." Kurama nodded as they both bolted forward. However, Kurama felt his foot shift beneath him.
"Ofh!" Kurama gasped, hitting Naruto as they both tripped and hit the floor.
"Guess I don't has as good as control as I thought." Naruto whined before Kurama found himself and Naruto pushed together the glasses woman hugged them.
"Oh, my god! So cute! Boss has turned into a chibi Boss-chan! And a cute little Werecat! I'm dying of cuteness overload!" The spectacled woman squealed with delight.
"What's going on-Ah!" Kurama managed to look around the woman's shoulder to see a red hair boy with his brother, Shukaku. The tanuki has a more humanoid appearance, but was still round and chubby like his old form. However, Kurama said Shukaku was smaller than the boy next to him who was trembling in fear.
"The lolicon monster!" The red hair boy shouted while the woman let off a weird giggle.
"So many cuties today!" The woman squealed in absolute bliss.
Humans are scary!Kurama thought, watching in horror as Shukaku and the red haired boy also fell victim to the woman's hug attack.
-Break-
This is what food tastes like?Kurama thought, tears in his eyes while eating a sandwich. Amazing! I never ate anything outside of meat! No wonder humans screw around with their meat! It's like an explosion of goodness is happening in my mouth! Kurama thought, chewing his food before glaring at Shukaku who was reaching for the last sandwich on the plate offer to them.
"Hah! Got it!" Kurama grinned, snatching the sandwich and putting it in his mouth before Shukaku could.
"No fair!" Shukaku scowled before both Kurama and Shukaku's eyes lit up with seeing another plate of treats, this time of oddly shaped brown squares. "Gimme!" Both Kurama and Shukaku shouted, grabbed each a brown square and biting into it.
"So good!" Kurama chimed happily, I'm so glad to be alive.
"Alright, seems we have everything in order. I apologize for having you to do my work, Shiroe." Kurama looked up, seeing Naruto working at a makeshift desk, busy writing something. Several other people including Shiroe and the devil woman Kurama knew now as Henrietta standing around the desk.
"It's no problem. None of us were expecting several people to faint today. But, are you sure you want to still open the shops tomorrow?" Shiroe asked, looking over some papers.
"Yes. We have a date set for the deadline and I'll be damn if I don't make it." Naruto growled, looking over something he wrote. "I'll just have to steal one of the members who would be part of the supply chain tomorrow to help run the front desk since I have to get used to this body. Though, glad I can finally speak again. I saw the strikes were taken off my tags, too, meaning my slate been cleaned. Only talking hurts my throat."
"Wait, what are we going to do for later?" Henrietta asked, "Boss doesn't look as imposing like before, so that could be a serious problem. Also, your voice is horrible. It's not cute like your body now."
"Shut it, Lolicon. Of course my voice is going to be like this. I haven't spoken in almost a month. But, don't worry. I'll figure something out when time comes. For now, let's focus on the first part of the plan." Naruto sighed, putting his pen down and adjusting his glasses. "If things go well, we can hit the second part not just faster, but with a strong hook."
"Are you sure Naruto?" Iruka asked as Kurama and Shukaku both got off the boxes they were sitting on and walked over to the desk in curiosity. "I mean, I been your teacher, but we never covered anything like this in class. How do you know all this?"
"Partly due to Elder Tales. The game this world is based off of has a real working economic system model." Naruto sighed, tapping his papers together. "It isn't that hard once you figure out the ropes with economics. What's hard is keeping up with the big boys. However, the upside with the trade alliance is we have at least our supply chain down without any major expense, something the big boys' don't have at the moment."
"The big boys?" Shukaku asked, "What are you guys talking about, anyways? What's economics?"
"Shukaku, you're a moron. Economics is this weird things humans do with materials and supplies." Kurama sighed, through pouting. Then again, even I don't know fully what economics is. It's something I loosely gotten from past hosts.
"Economics is a pretty complex thing, so I try to sum it up in one go. An economy is the system of production, distribution, and consumption for any kind of living center. It goes from as simple as bartering two items up to fueling full armies and cities with how complex it can go." Naruto chuckled at the shocked look on Shukaku and Kurama's face. "Economy is actually an important factor to peace. If many people are making their profits from war, then they'll invest to keep the war going than to stop it. Also, countries with weak economies will often try to start wars to gain new assets and kick start their economy. Though, can't say countries with strong economies don't start wars as well, but they are more likely to keep at peace than jump into something that could hurt their economy."
"W-Wait, so the Sage could have stopped all the fighting with this economic thing?" Shukaku said, though holding his head.
Holy crap. No wonder humans were able to survive no matter how many times you cut them down.Kurama thought in shock.
"Sadly, no, that war was not started by economics and politics per say. Though that came into play afterwards once the flames started." Naruto sighed, "Though, I hope we can get this done before th..ge...w…" Naruto held his throat, tears forming. [Should have known it was too good to be true.] Naruto sighed, shocking Kurama and Shukaku with the text box that appeared over his head.
"It's probably just you are overusing your voice. Let it rest before morning and it should come back… Ah, hopefully?" Shiroe said, sheepishly shrinking under Naruto's glare.
[Well, upside, this might make negations easier later. Alright. Leave Santa's Workshop to me tomorrow. You got not just Grandeur and Radio Market's help, but the Akiba's only Crafting Sage to top it off.] Kurama and Shukaku shivered with the evil smirk that came onto Naruto's face. [Add the fact there are no laws, I can get away with the darker side of economics without too many issues.]
"Now, now. We got to keep things clean so we don't betray people's trust." Shiroe sighed.
[Don't worry. I ain't going that far. But, you do realize this is Akiba, correct?] Naruto chuckled.
"What about Akiba?" Naotsugu said before his eyes widen. "Oh, man, wait, what is our shop selling?" Naotsugu, Shiroe, Henrietta and the little girl ninja Akatsuki recoiled.
"Why does that matter?" Gaara asked, coming into the room with another plate of food. "Aren't we selling the same stuff as the other shops?"
[Partly. Of course, we will be selling recovery items, equipment, and such along with Radio Market and Grandeur.] Naruto smirked, adjusting his glasses. [However, along with it, we will be selling several books and manga including Tales of the Gutsy Ninja, the first book of the Icha Icha series, and volumes 1 and 2 of Hidden Village Hero. There is also novelty items I have managed to create like figurines to sell as well. I also have special promo packages for those who wouldn't mind shelling out some extra gold for limited supply goodies including hand painted covered editions of both manga.]
"What's so special about that?" Iruka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Akiba back in the old world is a bit hub for anything otakus are interested in, making it the main source of economy to sell any anime, manga, computer software, and games." Shiroe sighed with a frown. "Add the fact Elder Tales itself is a game, you easily have at least half of the people here in Akiba possibly being in some realm an otaku of some type of media. Well over 90% of Akiba is some kind of nerd as well. Given the fact there is almost nothing to do and the fact we have books and manga alone will be a big driver in sales. Add the otaku bait Boss has ready, Santa's Workshop might easily match what I am projecting Crescent Burger makes if everything goes smoothly. Ah, wait, do you know what Otaku means?" Shiroe asked, looking at Iruka.
"Sadly, yes… And I am starting to see the academy might need to add economics to the curriculum." Iruka said, pale at the kid before him.
"Yeesh, Naruto, you make me seem like a guppy at work." Naotsugu sighed, shaking his head.
Is this Otaku thing a really big player in this economic thing? Kurama thought frowning, Man, humans are a whole lot more complex than I thought. I just thought they were annoying fleabags who only knew how to fight and hate.
"However, how are we suppose to keep the secret safe to how we made our goods?" Henrietta asked, frowning. "It will be easy with Crescent Burger since we are having the cooking done at our guild hall. However, I noticed you have all the workshops right next door to the shops. It would be easy for guilds to use Assassins and the Tracker class to spy on Santa's Workshop."
[Don't worry. We have the area for the back set for only all of the trade alliance is only.] Naruto grinned, [Though I was going to ask for Akatsuki's help in the coming days, I now have Kurama to help me out.] Naruto looked at Kurama.
"Ah," Kurama trembled, seeing all the eyes landed on him. Wait, when was humans this scary before? Is it because I am now the one looking up that they seem more intimidating?
"Though Kurama is cute, I don't think a level 9 Druid will help you out." Henrietta sighed, shaking her head.
"Level… 9?" Kurama quickly opened the menu and instantly gawked at his level. I was well over a hundred when I was killed!
"Ha ha. Serves you right, Kurama! You were always saying you were the strongest." Shukaku laughed at his brother.
"You're level 1." Kurama snickered when Shukaku fell over in horror.
[It's not his class or level that will be useful. Kurama, you can still sense negative emotions, right?] Kurama blinked at Naruto, who was smiling.
"Y-yes. Actually, it has gotten stronger and it seems I can sense more emotions than before." Kurama said, "It's been a bit disorienting since waking up."
[That's understandable. However, this will also give you a chance to help figuring out your limits and such is with it by keeping an eye out for odd emotions from people who visit our market. It is a really useful skill for this world as you can probably see the Hate system and see who is getting the enemies' attention and all.] Kurama nodded, though not understanding what Naruto meant. [Well, let's call it a night. We best rest up tomorrow as it will be a busy day.]
"Agreed." Everyone in the room nodded.
But, what can I really do to help? I'm weak now compared to before? Kurama thought, slightly frowning at his new paws.