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.
Authornote-Well, we are getting close to the end of Volume 1 of this story. I wanted to give a heads up on my plans for this story before I hit the last chapter. I decided I won't be posting Volume 2 until it is finished. And by finished, I mean gone though a few revisions once I finished the chapters so I can catch more of the mistakes I am missing. Due to I am still working on the first draft, I won't have an exact date for when Volume 2 will launch even though I am aiming for this year. Hope you like this chapter.
"It's good to hear your voice." Minori whispered, hiding behind crates as the other beginners helped set up to sleep. Thank goodness. Touya is safe. Minori thought, trying to hold back her tears.
"How is everyone? Naruto-sensei has been working us to death over here. His training makes Hamelin seem like a cake walk." Minori smiled, relief washing over her with hearing Touya's voice.
"We are doing pretty well, actually," Minori said, looking past the crates, all the beginners whispering quietly. However, they were filled with hope and happiness instead of the normal despair and gloom. "We told the plans to the other beginners. So far, of our group, Kiba is the only one doing combat now as the rest of us still force to craft in the hall. Hamelin has been oddly laxing up on everyone. I was expecting them to punish us for you all escaping. Though they are still having us craft more than before. It's exhausting."
"Really?" Touya asked, "I guess the lie work. Though, it could be also due to Santa's Workshop."
"Santa's Workshop?" Minori asked, confused. "It's June. Why Santa?"
"It's the market Shiroe-nii and his guild has opened. The name is a joke on Naruto-sensei since he is called Santa Claus due to something he done in the past. Naruto-sensei is running it to help get the funds we need to save you all. Though, it seems whatever Naruto-sensei and Itachi&Kisame-sensei are selling is like Christmas early. They been having issues just keeping inventory up. A lot of guilds have been hitting the shop for all sorts of items and it's probably hurting Hamelin's business. They are probably focusing on getting your levels up and getting more materials to keep up."
"I see. That's why they been really pushing more for ingredient and leveling quotas." Minori chuckled before seeing Ino looking at her. "But, how is things going for everyone?"
"Shiroe-nii is often either talking with the guilds or stuck in his office with his own work. Shikamaru has been being driven nuts helping Itachi&Kisame-sensei and Naruto-sensei with the shop. Shino, Sasuke, and I been helping Naotsugu-sensei and other with keeping the supply chain up for the alliance's shops though Naruto-sensei has us craft afterwards to raise our levels. He says I am good with numbers so is thinking of having me becoming an Accountant for Log Horizon once I get my level higher. Though, Sasuke and Naruto-sensei got sick the other day and their names and races changed." Touya said, his tone a bit confused.
"Their race changed? Did they use an item?" Minori asked before his eyes widen, "Ah, wait. Did they gain horns?"
"Oh! Yeah! How you know, Minori?" Touya asked.
"Hinata's race and name changed. He also got horns now." Minori said, remembering seeing the small horns on Hinata's forehead when Otsutsuki added onto his name. Hence Hinata gotten into wearing a headband to hide them out of embarrassment. "Do you know what happened to them? Hinata told me her Byakugan is working again, but differently."
"That's because what caused us to trap in this world is bringing our friend's world into it. It kept their eye abilities cancelled out till the world figured out how to balance it out. Sasuke now can use the mini-map in combat zones and can see things far faster than normal people, but has to train a lot to get his body to react as fast. They are still trying to figure out what the Sharingan can now do, but that's great to hear Hinata got his eye ability back." Touya let out a sigh.
"But, Shiroe-nii warned us all that the Catastrophe is not over. So far, much of the big changes have been focused on our friends' world and getting it ready for some kind of big event. However, that also means you all need to be careful until we rescue you all." Touya said, unable to hide his worry. "From what I hear, Naruto-sensei and Crescent Moon Alliance are about to put the next phase of the plan forward and we will be doing the rescue as soon as that is cleared."
"Thank you. You be safe, too." Minori said, closing her chat. But, if this world is still changing, how can we find our place in this world? I mean, I am weak and unable to do anything… Yet, Touya is beginning to get stronger. I have to be strong as well! Minori thought, slapping her face to keep from crying.
"So, how is things going?" Ino asked, Chouji having also came over with other beginners.
"They are doing well. Naruto-san is a strict teacher, but I can understand with all that is going on." Minori smiled at the others.
"Never would expect Naruto to be a strict teacher considering how much of a delinquent he was." Ino sighed, crossing her arms. "But, he's a lot more serious about this world than our own, so that might be why."
"Though, is it true someone discovered how to make food with flavor?" Chouji asked, droll going down her chin.
"I think it's call the Crescent Burger, right? One of my friends in a better guild told me about it." Another beginner said, hope in her voice. "It actually tastes like a real burger!"
"If only our captor bought those and feed us, I would be content fighting monsters all day!" A warrior class beginner chimed. "I'm sick and tired of eating mush."
"Agreed. I can't even regain my weight, though now it seems I can use my families techniques without keeping my calorie count up here with the spells they turned into." Chouji sighed, "It feels so weird being skinny."
"But, you actually look so cute skinny! It makes me wonder how you would look if you lost weight as a boy." Ino chuckled at Chouji's pout at her.
"However, it seems they might be doing it soon." Everyone went silent, looking at Minori. "They have one more thing to do, but it looks like they will be doing that tomorrow. If they can success in it, they will be ready soon."
"So… We are really going to be saved?" One of the beginners asked, the air suddenly with unease.
"No. We are not going to be saved." Minori said, her face full of determination. "We are going to escape and have help in our attempt. This will only work if we work for it as well."
"I just hope this works. But, seems like Naruto and this Shiroe know what they are doing." Chouji said, "I just want to eat real food again."
"You're always thinking of food!" Ino scolded Chouji as Minori heard she was getting another call.
Who is calling me? Shiroe and Touya already called me. Minori looked at her menu's and blinked. Otsutsuki Las Boss Naruto? Ah! It's Naruto, I forgot I added him to my Friend's List before we trained! Minori tapped on the answering button. "Hello?"
"Well, Minori's popular tonight." Ino smirked while Minori raised an eyebrow.
"Hello?" Minori asked again, getting just wheezing through the link. However, she nearly jumped when a text box appeared before her. "Nani?"
[Hello. Sorry about the delay. I can't speak without special conditions, so I use text boxes to communicate.]
"Text boxes. Like in the chat box when it was a game?" Minori asked, noticing the odd looks from the others.
[Yep. Everyone can use this, too. I actually was wanting to contact you since you probably have a better chance of getting the hang of it. I will be using Hydra Link to connect everyone, but if I have everyone's thoughts on, it would become a mess. Hence I want to make it so you're our director on the noobs' side of this operation.]
"I understand." Minori said, I get it. They are getting things set up for the actual event. "What do I need to do?"
[Practice using the text boxes. Try thinking out your words without saying them. When using the private chat, it will show a preview menu hence why I am doing this call. Once you can get it basically working, I would like you to practice it with the other beginners. Also figure out code phrases for various actions including combat. Even though I will be able to take control of your bodies through my Hydra Link to assist, there's only so much I can do with characters I am not used multi-boxing with.]
"Multi-boxing?" Minori said aloud before focusing on her what Naruto said. [LIKE THIS?]Minori blinked, shocked finding a text box appeared from her thoughts and hit the accept button on the question menu.
[Good, good. Keep at it. Tell me you class and subclass for practice. Focus on just words. I can teach you how to control the caps once we get you all out of there. However, only practice in the Voice Chat. They are invisible to all but the receiver if you do that whereas the public version is visible to everyone.]
[KANNAGI AND TAILOR. AH I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU DOING? YOU ARE BREATHING HARD.]Minori hit the send putting with a sigh. From what Touya said, he is a crafter, so is he busy working at the moment.
[Oh! Very good! You're a quick learner. Shiroe took a while to get it. Sorry about the wheezing. My stamina in crafting mode is horrific. I am busy preparing what I need for the two meetings I have tomorrow and getting close to running on empty. My beloved wife is a meanie and has been blocking all my attempts of making my Ultimate Fatigue Crusher to help keep my energy up. Coffee only goes so far for someone like me.]
"W-Wife?" Minori gasped in shocked, "You're married, Naruto-san?"
"Wait! What? Naruto's married?" Ino asked, all the girls crowding closed to Minori, much to her discomforted. "When the hell did Naruto get married!"
[Oops. Sorry, forgot my sarcasm takes time to translate to new people who meet me with using the chat box and text boxes.] Minori heard an odd sheepishly laughed over the link. It was very raspy and harsh compared to normal people. [Another person was stuck in an avatar use all the time with the one I am stuck in, so I used the couple system with them. We are both at the highest level which is devoted husband and wife. Due to we have the anniversary bonus active, we can't break up so are stuck in as officially a husband and wife to this world. Though, we are still discussing how we will fix the issue the bonus is causing so don't know if we will divorce or not as soon as the bonus is gone.]
"Oh, I did not know Elder Tales had a couple system." Minori said, before looking at the others. "Ah, the game allowed for dating and marriage, hence Naruto had married one of his other characters for the bonuses that came with it. They are stuck married till a bonus cancels out as it is keeping them from divorcing."
"Ah, I heard of that. Though not a lot of people use it now." A Cleric beginner said.
"I'm shock Naruto even thought of marrying in a game. He was always crushing on Sakura, though Sakura is now a boy so maybe he changed his mind." Chouji sighed.
"I heard the couple system will do same gender couples, too." A Sorcerer beginner said.
"Maybe Naruto had a thing for Sakura that was not related to girls." Ino chuckled, pale in the face. "Never knew Naruto swing that way."
[My wife is female. The only reason I made Sakura a male in the game was because I was roleplaying her avatar male for a character with a similar personality for researching for my writing and drawing.] Minori frowned at the annoyed sigh she heard. [Though, can't deny I don't mind guys either. But, that's just because I don't get a lot of the stupid things around love that causes unnecessary drama.]
What was your love life like? Minori thought, sweating. "Ah, no. His wife is female and he made Sakura's avatar based for a story he was writing and using his personality for the character."
"Naruto writes? That's new." Chouji said, "But, can you ask him what his plans are?"
[Sorry. We need to keep the full plan quiet till we have the final pieces set. Shiroe and I like to ensure a full on checkmate for such a delicate operation. Once we are in checkmate, then things should be very easy on your side when the time comes. Till then, please be patient and keep preparing. If things go well tomorrow, things will happen fast.] Minori sweated at the creepy chuckle she got over the link.
"I-I understand. Thank you for answering. They are keeping quiet on it for good reasons." Minori got nods from the others.
[Oh, look at the time. I need to finish my preparations or else my first meeting might not go well. Try practicing the text boxes with the other beginners. Sorry for it taking us so long to get things together, but we want to make sure no one ever goes through the same experience you all been through ever again here in Akiba.] Minori shivered at the evil light laughter from the link. [There's a reason Shiroe and I share the title Villain in Glasses from the old game days. Though, with what I am going to be doing, my raid boss title of End Game Boss will be more appropriate. Night.]
"N-Night." Minori stuttered, sighing in relief with hearing the link disconnect. Shiroe-nii… Naruto-san… What in the world are you doing?
"So, Naruto is really helping us." Minori looked at Ino, seeing tears in the blond hair girl's eyes. "Heh. I guess all of us from the academy owe him big time after what we put him through. Or we will have to live through him bragging about it all time, being the loud mouth he is."
"Ah… He's mute for some reason at the moment. Hence he uses text boxes to communicate." Everyone looked at Minori in a blank shock. "Ino, can I practice using text boxes through Voice Chat. Naruto just taught me how and wants me to practice."
"S-Sure… But… Naruto mute?" Ino chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, that might explain why he never contacted us. He's probably too embarrassed that his best quality no longer works."
Ah, I don't think his voice is his best quality from what I heard, Minori thought as the beginners began to talk to each other. But… Naruto gives me the creeps. Can I trust him? And why did he call Shiroe-nii and himself a villain?