Authornote: Agh... Why life? Why do you get in the way of my transcribing? Quick heads up for Duet Worlds, I am working on the current chapter with typing it out from my notebook. Just might not get it out this week if things keep going as is. Hence also my little delay for posting Alien Chronicles. Only one more chapter after this and Volume 1 is done for this story. However, instead of keeping to my "one scene per chapter" rule I gave myself when starting this story, this chapter has two scenes. I am wondering if you guys and gals would like this format better as I will be doing editing and merging a few chapters together during the break between Volume 1 and 2 and getting my outline fixed back up. Also, a sneak peak into Volume 2 considering I decided to bring in an original scene from there since I am rethinking how I will do the next arc with some of the reviews I gotten. Hope you all like this chapter and have a great day!
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.
Minori looked up from where she was sweeping, barely keeping herself from falling over as three blurs passed by her feet.
"Give me back my shields!" A turtle like creature cried out, chasing a kitsune and tanuki.
"No chance, Isobu!" Kurama chimed while Shukaku and he blew raspberries at their brother who kept chasing them through the yard.
"They are sure lively," Minori chuckled, smiling at where the three creatures went. "Though, they could help out." The Kannagi looked over the large yard she was working on.
"Let them play." Minori looked at Sakura who was helping Ino move around outdoor furniture. "At least they are not getting in the way like one person."
"Oh, my," Minori chuckled, seeing Shika snoring away on the bench Sakura and Ino was carrying. "Well, she did work hard to help save us."
"But, amazing how even though Shika decided to stay a girl, she's still as much as an lazy ass like when she was a guy. No matter how cute she is now." Ino groaned, putting the bench down. "But, I wonder why there is no shops here anymore. I actually wanted to shop!" Ino whined, pointing out no stalls in the marketplace that was Santa's Workshop.
"That's because Grandeur and Radio Market left." The three looked at Chouji, who was munching on snacks from a bag. Though, her figure was still somewhat skinny, but had now a more rounder figure with plump cheeks. "They moved to open in the main market and Log Horizon will be using Santa's Workshop to help start new shops and such."
"Still, I would love to shop!" Ino pouted.
"You need Gold for that, Ino-san." Ino instantly glared at Shino and Kiba who were working on a sign. "Luckily, you can make goods due to your subclass, but still, at this moment, much of us don't have any money. All bees have to contribute to the hive, after all."
"True, though can't wait to start making some. The food from Earth I seen at the stalls look so good." Kiba chimed, Akamaru letting a bark of agreement while riding his head.
"Oh, where's Touya and Sasuke?" Minori asked, realizing both were missing. I haven't seen either of them today.
"I believe they are getting kenjutsu lessons with Seta-san." Shino said, getting the others attention. "They both use swords even though Sasuke is a Sorcerer and hence Shiroe-sensei got his old friend to help them learn to fight with swords."
"Sounds fitting of Sasuke considering he was always the best at the academy including taijutsu." Kiba sighed, "Though, after all the fighting I did in Hamilen, I want a break."
"You could use your Animal Tamer class to raise livestock through monsters." Sakura said, grinning at Kiba.
"I rather not. I am just lucky Akamaru does revive," Kiba groaned, "I heard from other Animal Tamers their partners will die if they are killed. Even though I lived with understanding this back in the old world, it still irks me now that if I die, I could lose a new partner."
"Is Akamaru special?" Minori asked, raising an eyebrow. She had been reading up in the academy along with taking notes from Shiroe's lessons he was giving her. The ninja world had a lot of things Earth never even experienced from superpowers to talking animals.
"Yeah. In fact, he's oddly put as a player. In fact, his race is Wolf Fang like mine even though he is a dog." Kiba said, looking Akamaru. "Not that I don't mind as Akamaru's my bud no matter what." Kiba laughed when Akamaru barked, "Yeah, that would be cool if you could be human without using the henge."
I wonder why it is like that? Maybe Shiore-nii and Naruto-sensei knows. Minori thought before hearing a yawn.
"Could you guys keep it down... I wanna sleep." Shika groaned, glaring at them all sleepily.
"Yeah, right, more like hibernate." Ino growled back.
"Correct. Once Santa's Workshop opens up again, I will be working the shop so I would like to get as much sleep as possible." Shika sighed, sitting up. "It's less troublesome than fighting and will most likely keep my Mom from nagging me when the world's combine, so win-win in my mind."
"Then why the hell did you always ditched helping out at the flower shop?" Ino growled, clenching her fists.
"C-Calm down." Everyone blinked, seeing Hinata walked up with Nyanta and Naotsugu. "H-Hello!" Hinata squeaked, hiding behind the men with seeing Minori.
Hinata is still as shy as always. But, why does he hide when I am around?" Midori thought before seeing Nyanta and Naotsugu had shopping bags. "Oh, did you get ingredients for dinner tonight?"
"Yep. Along with supplies for the coming weeks, nya." Nyanta chimed, "We're having curry tonight."
"Curry!" Everyone turned back to where Akatsuki came out of the workshop that connected to Log Horizon's guild hall. "Mi'lord! We're having curry tonight!" Akatsuki shouted excitedly while running back into the workshop.
"I guess curry is well liked in this family." Sakura chuckled as others giggled, "Though curry sounds good. Ah, wait, isn't the kitchen still needing work?"
Family? Minori thought before seeing Naotsugu do the good guy pose.
"We're having a campfire festival tonight! What best way to celebrate finishing properly moving in!" Naotsugu hummed.
"What's all the noise about?" Iruka asked as Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and he came out of the workshop. "I was shock to heard Akatsuki shouting and running through the halls about curry."
"Because the Chief's curry is to die for!" Naotsugu drooled, "We are having it for dinner tonight."
"Oh, are we also having curry relish?" Obito asked, grinning.
"Ah, I knew I was missing something, nya." Nyanta said, frowning, "Oh, well, just means I can't forget it next time, nya."
"Ah," Obito pouted like a child. "But, that's the best part of curry."
"You may look older Obito, but you're still a brat." Kakashi chuckled.
"Take that back, Teme!" Obito growled, glaring alright at Kakashi.
"What? Curry!" Everyone blinked, hearing Shiroe's voice before seeing Akatsuki and Shiroe run out of the building. "I love curry!" Shiroe chimed, stopping before them. "We're having curry tonight?"
"Yeah, Shiroe-chii. Glad to see your hyped as well, nya," Nyanta chuckled, also seeing Itachi&Kisame and Naruto come out of the building. "I'll be cooking as soon as we get the groceries put away in the storehouse."
"Ah! Y-Yes, I need to o-organize the storehouse better now that w-we finished moving in." Hinata said, frowning.
Ah, that's right, Hinata became a storekeeper for our guild. Minori thought, Though, I still haven't figured out a subclass yet that will work for me since I don't want to stay a Tailor.
"Hey, everyone's here!" Soujiro Seta chimed, walking into the courtyard with the Fox Tail woman that was Nazuna. Touya ran up to Minori as Isuzu and Sasuke followed behind the two level 90s.
"Hey! Minori! I learned a new stance today!" Touya chimed, grinning at his sister. "Want to see it later?"
"Sure." Minori said, smiling back. Touya is so happy. It's so different from before. Even back in the old world. Minori watched as everyone chatted, even seeing Isobu, Kurama, and Shukaku come up to greet the others. I don't know why, but I don't feel homesick at all. I do miss Mom and Dad, but I feel perfectly fine... Maybe Sakura is right. This is now my family.
"Oh, so you want to take on that old bet now, huh?" Minori blinked seeing Nazuna grinning as well as Naruto.
[Hai, hai. Whoever wins kiss.] Naruto let off his creepy chuckle. [Though, if I win, it gets a bit delay since I want to see your guild's reaction.]
"Eh?" Minori asked before her face turned deep red, her shocked matched by many of the other younger kids. Naruto is a cheater! He's married to Itachi&Kisame already!
"Agreed. I'll even do the delay to the same." Nazuna chimed, both of them moving back. "Rock, paper, scissors?"
[Yep. You don't trust me with dice, even after sealing away your Rigged Dice.] Naruto smirked, both moving a hand back.
"The troll's at it again." Naotsugu sighed, "Nazuma, stop egging him. We don't need a war festival now."
"Though, it is good to see old friends at their old antics, nya" Nyanta chuckled.
"Rock, paper-"
"Eagh!" Naruto let out a muffled shout, Itachi&Kisame pulling his hair to stop him. [What was that for? TToTT That hurt!]
"You know we are married, right?" Itachi&Kisame chimed, clapping her hands together. "Even though I have betrayed people in the past with being a shinobi, I personally find cheating on a marriage is actually far worse, especially now. Maybe ripping you up to see how long it takes you to die and revive at the Cathedral would be a good punishment for cheating on me with another woman?" Itachi laughed, making many of the group to sweat.
Itachi&Kisame-sensei is mad! Minori trembled, sensing the killer intent coming off the female Enchanter.
"Ah, Itachi&Kisame-san, they weren't betting to kiss each other." Shiroe said, sheepishly laughed.
"Huh?" Then who?" Itachi&Kisame asked before Naotsugu, Shiroe, Nyanta, Nazuna, and Naruto looked at Soujiro Seta, Nazuna and Naruto having an evil smirk on their faces.
"Huh? Why are you all looking at me?" Soujiro Seta asked, innocently cocking his head.
They were betting on kissing him! Minori thought, finding her face heating up. But, Naruto-sensei is married to Itachi&Kisame-sensei. Why would he want to kiss a guy? And on purpose! Minori thought before looking at Sasuke. "I-Is this what you mean by womanizer did not fit N-Naruto-sensei?"
"Yep." Sasuke sighed, not shocked at all at Naruto. Shiro and Shika also relaxed and even shaking their heads.
"Naruto will do anything to get under people's skins." Nazuna chuckled, seeing Itachi&Kisame's face also bright pink in embarrassment. "Though I would love to kiss Souji myself, I really would like to see how many in my guild are into yaoi. I mean, what woman would not pass up seeing two hot guys kiss? I can't deny once you look pass Naruto's scary face in Raid Boss mode, he's a good looker. Though, I would prefer Shiroe do it."
"Me?" Shiroe backpedaled, blushing at woman.
[Heh heh! Also, would be great to start off Akiba's first Prank War through a bang. Stirring up the hornet nest that is West Wind Brigade would be perfect.] Naruto laughed at the shocked faces he was getting.
He's the devil, not Shiroe-nii. Minori thought, trembling in fear.
"Oh, so you sway both ways," Itachi&Kisame said, smiling, "Is that why you're not too worried about being married to me even though I was a guy? Though, with seeing Shiroe's reaction, should I worry about you cheating on me with him?"
"Hell no!" Shiroe glared at Itachi&Kisame. "I rather the damn tentacles puns than you start going the homosexual route!" Shiroe instantly recoiled at the evil smirks from Itachi&Kisame and Naruto.
[Ah, so Shiroe really does like the tentacles. Though, to answer you Itachi&Kisame, I really have no preference. I still don't really get love and sex, but I do love messing with people about it as for some reason they have odd things about both.] Naruto grinned, [Though, I do wonder how West Wind Brigade would react seeing Shiroe and Soujirou doing a threesome with tentacles, huh, Nazuna?]
"You know, that actually might be quite delicious." Nazuna chuckled, "Can you draw that?"
"No! If you fucking draw me in a doujinshi like that, I will find a way to really murder you, Boss!" Shiroe shouted, pulling out his staff.
"I am actually kind of curious of that, too. Especially since it seems you rather it be the tentacles and you, Shiroe." Itachi&Kisame chuckled, making Shiroe's face turn red in anger.
"What are they talking about?" Soujiro Seta asked, having a lost look on his face.
"Don't, Seta-dude, don't. This is one thing you should leave be." Naotsugu sighed, patting the Samurai's back. "Weird trolling festival all around with those three."
Ah, so they were teasing everyone. Minori thought, sheepishly laughing. I need to keep out of the war zone... But, this is like when Touya teased me. Minori smiled, seeing everyone begin laughing as Shiroe got more flustered with Nazuna, Naruto, and Itachi&Kisame's teasing. This is really my family is. No matter how weird it is. I got to find out how I can help as I don't want to fall behind.
"Hey! Look at what we finished!" Kiba shouted, quite flustered like Shiroe.
"Awesome festival!" Naotsugu chimed as Shino and Kiba held up a wooden sign spelling out Log Horizon on the arc piece of wood.
"You got yourself quite a house, Shiroe-sempai," Soujirou Seta chimed, "Well, we need to get back to our guild. We are building a large bath area, so you should check it out once it is done."
"Sure. Bye!" Shiroe said, everyone waving the two West Wind Brigade off. "Well, how about we hurry and get that sign up. That way we can enjoy seeing it as we eat the Chief's curry tonight." Shiroe was greeted by cheers, smiling at everyone.
Maybe I really am in the same world as Shiroe. Minori thought, grinning like her brother. And I am very happy with this world now.
-Log Horizon-Log Horizon-Log Horizon-
"Where the hell is that bastard?" Meizu shouted, his head panning around in a panic while his back was against his fellow twin. A strange green mist covered the area, oddly thick compared to normal mist. Both brothers clothing turning yellowish in the light and made their darker cameo stand out.
"Stay calm, Meizu," Gozu said, holding his gauntlet out with ready to attack. "He's messing with us."
"Messing?" Both twins instantly went on guard with hearing a slightly raspy voice filled the air. "How rude. You should be honored I have decided in my very business schedule to take the time and play with you two. You're just minor competition compared to many, many others I am after!"
"Move!" Meizu shouted, grabbing his brother and both dodging shards of ice before jumping through the trees. "How many nature types does this bastard have?"
"No clue, but he's way above our level. He's probably Jonin or even ANBU level like Zabuza." Gozu said, both keeping well aware of their surroundings. "If we don't get back with Zabuza or shake this guy off, we're done for."
"Why can't we just take him on ourselves!" Meizu growled, "We are trained in assassination while this bastard is clearly is battle focused. We can easily take him out."
"Cool your head!" Gozu shouted back, "Didn't just hear what I said. This guy might be battle focused, but he can clearly sense where we are at even in this mist. Assassination techniques of our level will most likely fail. That's why we got to get back with our leader and join forces!"
"You're right on levels." Both men shivered, the voice seeming closer than before and making them pump chakra into their legs to move faster. "You're roughly level 30s and I am right at a comfy level 87. One hit of my Icicle Ripper can easily kill you with a direct hit. Ah, I believe the term the Adventurers of this same class called it steamrolling enemies?"
"He's a chatty one, though. Thank god or we been dead hours ago." Gozu sighed, both brothers sweating., "And what the hell is an Adventurer?"
"Ah, they are simply what is replacing the Era of the Shinobi and the clearly failed system here." Both brothers moved to the right, shocked to see lightning shooting past them. "And future toys for Genii like myself. I mean, it would be no fun to cause destruction and death without someone to tango with. Though, before that, I got the lucky task of getting rid of the competition like yourselves who would hog up our spotlight!"
"Competition? What do you mean by that? All we are trying to do is overthrow the Mizukage and raising the funds to do it with simple assassinations. I don't get what these Genii would see in us as competition!" Meizu shouted, glaring behind his back.
"You're pretty low on the threat level. However, with how I been taking out the high leveled ones left and right, Mister Flytrap is getting antsy. I already taken down his main puppet and two others. I just happened upon you two while after two more of his group. Little toys like you now seem really tempting as once the broken world and damage world combine, Mister Flytrap won't be able to wake his mommy once the two trees fuse!" Both twins pulled out kunai with hearing laughter, "Personally I would love to play with Mister Flytrap as well, but he's been too slippery for me to even get to tease him. He might even make it to the Moon Fall event at this rate."
"As if!" Meizu shouted as both brothers threw their kunai at the source of the voice.
"Flaming Cage!" Both narrowed their eyes with seeing fire behind them. "Clever, clever. You're both at least good toys compared to others I have already faced. Ah, how about a little reward. Not that you will remember once you die. Did you know the broken world and this one we are standing on are actually the same? The only difference is there were no players to come to this one. Hence the world cleverly made a system to keep the souls reincarnating in this world. One oh so useful for us Genii to rid all of you who refuse to directly go into the new system and make our goal easier."
"By system, you mean that stupid rumor that if you join a major village, you gain the ability of revival?" Gozu said, seeing a shadow in the green mist.
"That's bullshit! Once you're dead, that's it! Only a crazy idiot would believe such rumors," Meizu roared, "Much like allowing that bastard Mizukage to slaughter hundreds of people just because of their abilities."
"Ah, but it's not a rumor. It's the truth. Not that you remember due to how this world's system works." The shadow chuckled, "It actually has given all those who are willingly joining the new system a major buffer considering the cost of the Adventurer system has. Not that my brothers and I don't care. It just gives us a lot more to gather."
"Huh?" Meizu blinked, seeing the menus appear his eyes and showing Zabuza calling him. "Zabuza! We're in trouble!" Meizu said, answering the Voice Chat. "We have one hell of a bastard on our tail."
"What village is he from?" A deep voice asked, "How far are you from the base?"
"No clue the village, but he is sure of a nut job. We are not far-Ack!" Gozu and Meizu yelped, getting electrocuted and knocked back by some invisible force. "What the hell? We just went through this area-A barrier?"
"Ah, it seems you discovered one of my major abilities as a Genii. I can turn zones normally open into close zones and even control the gates for them to my pleasing." Both brothers turned around, watching as the shadow slowly got closer. "Very useful for keeping my toys from escaping me as the only one who has managed to get around it is Mister Flytrap. But, I guess it is time to put away my toys. Especially since you two are beginning to bore me."
"Shit, Meizu, we need to move fast and find the gate to this area." Gozu said, wrenching up his gauntlet for the shuriken chain connecting both brother's gauntlets to move up. "Cut down the trees and we-"
"The hell!" Meizu shouted, both brother's wide eyed with seeing the chain corroding. They looked at their gauntlets, finding the metal slowly rusting and turning to a liquid. Meizu could feel the heat of the metal corroding on his arm and saw his clothes were also beginning to smoke. "Our gauntlets are useless! Zabuza! Don't come near here!"
"Ah, you seem to finally notice," The shadow chimed, holding his arms up. "Though I am a monster, my Reflection Coat ability is so useful as I can use classes just like the Adventurers. Do you like my improvised version of Fierce Mold? I call it Corroding Mold Mist. Just like that wonderful Druid spell, it eats away at equipment. Though, unlike the original spell, Corroding Mold Mist also takes out weapons, not just equipment meant for defense. I would be not surprise if the man I admire and hence using his image has already figured out how to do such a thing. A mean, a true sage of games would be a pure god in this world. Even without being transported to the other world along with the other Players. Oh, how I want to meet a man whose intelligence rank is above many of my own kind."
"Meizu, you head right, I will go left." Gozu calmly whisper, his brother looking at him in shock. "If this place is what I think he said, there's still an exit. One of us will most likely die here, but if we separate, one of us will survive."
"There's no way I am going to-Shit!" Meizu shouted, both of them moving away from each other to dodge lightning. "I am not going to leave you, Go-"
"Icicle Ripper!" Gozu looked to the shadow just before being impaled and ripped to shreds by the shards of ice.
"Meizu! What is going on!" Zabuza shouted, but Meizu stood there looking at the torn apart remains of his brother.
"Ah! What a beautiful death!" The shadow hummed, Meizu not even noticing it coming closer to him. "It looked like a rose being blow apart by the icy wind. Now I see why Druids use such a spell all the time. The visuals are very impressive."
"B-Bastard! I will avenge... my... brother," Meizu turned to the shadow, frozen at the tall man that stood before him. His long, spiky white hair and glasses hiding his upper face, but not at all hiding the bloodthirsty smile on the man's lips.
"Meizu, get yourself together! Tell me what is happening!" Zabuza screamed, Meizu stepping back in pure horror from aura coming off the man before him. It was not killer intent, but something more evil that nearly froze the veteran ninja in his place.
"Oh, so you learnt how to use the voice chat?" The man asked, a childish tone to his voice. "No wonder your brother and you give me such a good time! Oh, that deserves another reward to you and the master who has taught you well as I know I'm close enough for him to hear me, too, through the voice chat."
"Who the hell is that, Meizu?" Zabuza asked while Meizu gulped, finding a crystal like spear blade now resting on his shoulder, the blade aimed at his throat. He was trembling, tears falling down his cheeks with realizing he was now up against the barrier with feeling sparks hitting his back.
"Giving you my real name would be too much... Oh, how's this. The one I admire is a game master by the name of Las Boss. Hence who I am at this moment as well. Since you are also nearby Demon of the Hidden Mist, I will play with you soon as well." The man chuckled, humming happily, "But, for now, Check!" Meizu managed to gasp just before feeling the blade go right through his neck and watch as everything moving around due to his head flying off his neck. He saw the his brothers remains before feeling the blade hit the top his head and everything went black.