A/N: I want to point out I started this, story earlier in the Fall than I did with my other crossover: Arashi Uzumaki of the Blue Plague, but still no where in the beginning, so if you want to know what happened in Blue Plague series before the point I used, you got to read the actual books. Just don't let kids read it.
I'm also censoring curse words as it's too many used in more than just saying usual ways that I can't ignore them all. At least with censoring I'm not going against my usual way of avoiding curse wordsof the Blue Plague series Tomas W. Watson, whose wife is Tina Watson. I should also tell you Watson always based a character after himself in his books, and in the Blue Plague series that's Bruce.
Finally, I don't own the Blue Plague series or the Naruto series or it's characters. But I do know the wife of the writer of the Blue Plague series Tomas W. Watson, whose wife is Tina Watson. I should also tell you Watson always based a character after himself in his books, and in the Blue Plague series that's Bruce.
if you see letters with '-' that's me sensoring curse words in case none of you realized that.
If you haven't read it yet, read this first:
Blue Plague's Nine-Tail Fox's Son: The Fall
Blue Plague's Nine-Tail Fox's Son: The Survival
Bruce Finish Up Unfinished Business
Sai woke Naruto up when the convoy returned. Naruto left the barracks in time for convoy to return. Mike and Bruce were already waiting as a Stryker pulled up to them, and Willie climbed out to join them as the line of vehicles continued pulling around.
"Did you leave anything behind?" Mike inquired as he gawked at the vehicles continuing to pull around the house, directed to places to park.
"Yeah, I tried to bring back more, but the drivers were starting to get worried that their trucks wouldn't handle more weight," Willie answered, walking over to them.
"You did get everything on the list, though?" Bruce asked with a worried look.
"Everything and a whole lot more," Williie replied.
"Mike shook his head. "What is it with you Army boys? Y'all want every toy known to man to fight with. A Marine only needs one shell per enemy."
Bruce smiled. "That's because in the Army they teach us to count past one." Mike gave Bruce the finger.
"Shinobi don't even need to count. We can just multiply our gear," Naruto said.
Mike and Bruce both gave Naruto the finger for that.
"When the area behind the hall was full of vehicles, the remainder was directed behind the barn. The trucks going back out that day were unloaded first. The Shreveport crew was only taking twenty were at the end of the road already with empty box trailers. When they returned that evening, half the trucks would be pulled inside. The others would be stored at the end of the road and unloaded later.
After Shreveport group had eaten, Bruce called for them to pull out at 0840. Naruto got Bruce to agree to let Konohamaru Moegi and Udon to join in security detail. It wasn't too hard. THey were to keep the convoy together during the shopping spree.
The first stop was the lumber yard, where forklifts loaded up stacks of lumber and other equipment for the new building projects so Yamato wouldn't have to provide all the wood needed. Once the flat bed were loaded, Bruce had two strikers escort them back to the farm.
Next,the remaining trucks moved out to a super home repair store. Konohamaru Moegi and Udon got to take part in the security team sweep of the store before the scavengers headed inside to clean it out. THis is how the group operate all day. Even though the temperature stayed around 35 degrees, Bruce had the security team checking in every five minutes at every location. Moving from place to place on the list, the group would load up and then send a small convoy back to the farm to unload and return for more.
They never had to stay at one place for more than an hour, because the scavenge group become masters at stripping a place for whjat they need in two hours, and with Naruto's shadow clones mixed into it, they get it done in half the time. Teams would move in and form lines to the trucks and forklifts would load by pallets. By 1500, they were at their last stop, the rail yard, for more storeage containers. This time, all forty trucks came back with flat beds, and each was stacked with two containers on top of eahother. As they left the rail yard, Bruce stopped the convoy by the oil refinery that had cost them a supply team. Except for the bodies of dead blues, there was no sign of the lost team, but there was four craters that criss cross at one point. Bruce had a scavenger team drive the Strykers and tanker trucks back to the farm after filling them up.
As the convoy left Shreveport, Bruce called over the radio, "Convoy head home, security team follow me." Bruce told Buffy who was driving his Stryker on Naruto's Lap, to pull off at the Haughton exti and head for her trailer park.
Naruto shifted realizing what Bruce was up to as Bruce told the five Strykers to turn around on the main road in the trailer park and be ready to leave in a hurry.
Bruce climbed out after Buffy turned around with the other Strykers. Debbie came over to Bruce as he radioed Buffy. "Buffy, stay inside the stryker."
Debbie looked at Bruce. "What are we doing here?"
"I have unfinished business here, baby," Bruce told her.
Bruce left Mike in charge of the Strykers with Moegi Udon and Konohamaru as he, Debbie, Naruto, and the kids headed to Buffy's trailer in single file. Nothing moved in the frigid air and with the Strykers off, the quietness was deafening. Moving up to the trailer, Bruce saw the window beside the front door had been broken out but the door was still closed.
Bruce keyed his radio. "Set up a perimeter around the front thetrailer in Mange formation. I'm going inside." Bruce was glad Naruto taught the group some defensive formations ninjas used. With Mange formation they can surround the front.
"I'm coming with you," Debbie answered over the radio. Bruce just nodded his head as he moved up on the porch. On the porch, animal and human bones were scattered.
"Blues are in trailer," Naruto told Bruce as he looked into the window.
Bruce didn't see anything in the living room but he didn't doubt Naruto. "Hear that! Those of you outside, be ready to haul a--" Bruce received replies from the kids as he opened the door.
Naruto waited as Bruce and Debbie headed inside. Soon they could hear a barrage of bullets ;and Naruto got a gut feeling Buffy's mom was among those being shot.
Well, at least Bruce was the one that finish Karen," Naruto thought.
Danny called over the radio in a worried voice, "Are you two okay?"
"Yeah, we're good. Just a small group in here. Danny, Naruto, I want you two to come inside and help, okay. Everyone else, we are leaving in five minutes," Bruce replied.
Naruto used chakra to neutralize his sense of smell as he and Danny entered the trailer.They reached the bedroom where Bruce and Debbie awayed. "Danny, Buffy's room is closed, so they didn't go in there. I want you to load up what you think is important to Buffy and make it quick. Naruto, you are to go with Debbie to seal and put up pictures in the hallway. Remember, they'll be contaminated."
They got to work and Naruto sealed every picture Debbie handed him. Danny and Bruce joined them with Danny carrying a blanket full of Buffy's Stuff. Naurto sealed it up too so it be easier. As they left, they could hear Jake softly whistling.
Bruce headed over to Jake. Naruto didn't need to over hear them to guess what it was. He knew there was more blues here than they thought. He could smell them. But they were more focus on Buffy's trailer.
"Team, gather around Naruto. We're jumping back to the Stryker," BRuce said which meant they were using the flying Thundergod Jutsu. "Mike, don't start up until we are inside."
Naruto got them to Strykers in a blink of an eye, they quickly got inside as Bruce told MIke to get them the h-- out of there. Leaving the trailer park, they never saw anything come out at them, and they saw nothing on their way back to the farm.
It was almost supper time when they pulled through the gate. Driving around the house, the property once again looked like a huge dumping ground. As everyone climbed out, they were sprayed down with bleach water in fine mist, including Naruto. This was one of the new requirements that Stephanie asked for . Everyone returning now from the outside had to be sprayed down, then had to change clothes before doing anything else inside the farm. Naruto had to do it to make sure he don't contaminate anyone else.
The family headed inside as Naruto headed to his bunker to strip and shower.Naruto didn't complain as he didn't want to be responsible for anyone turning into a blue just because he touched something contaminated.
Naruto rejoined the family at the hall table after grabbing his food. Paul was staring off into space while Conner and Willie were ready to fall over.
"Conner, didn't you sleep some today?" asked Bruce.
"H- no! Our whole crew stayed awake and helped put s- up," Conner replied. "Everyone knows you and your family along with Naruto went out Sunday night and then worked all day Monday, so we did too. No one knows what's in those scrolls Naruto has locked up in the shop, not that they can get close to find out. Joe or Harry throws something at them if they try, or Kankaro scares the h- out of them with his puppets."
"So that's where Crow went," Temari said. "Kankaro said he had Crow guarding something."
"I told them not to worry about protecting the scrolls," Naruto said. "No one but those from the elemental nations can break the seals anyways."
Bruce grinned at the thought of Joe Harry and Kankaro helping guard Naruto's containment scrolls. Standing up, Bruce yelled, "Shut up please!" The hall became silent as everyone turned towards Bruce. "I want to let everyone know Santa asked me and my family to meet up with him to get everyone's presents and entrusted Naruto to seal them in his scrolls so no one can take a peek even if they try. From what I been told, many of you have indeed tried."
Bruce sat down as the hall came to life talking about the scrolls and trying to guess what the presents could be. Millie came over with a cart and started putting plates down on the table. Grabbing a fork, Bruce started eating and looked toward Paul again, who was still looking off into space.
"Paul," Bruce called. He did not respond. Bruce called two more times until Cheryl elbowed Paul, who finally heard Bruce.
Rubbing his ribs, Paul replied, "Yeah."
"What the h- are you thinking about down there? Smoke is coming out of your ears."
Paul looked at Bruce. "You were serious about bringing thousands of people here, weren't you?"
Bruce thought Paul was joking but could see by the expression on Paul's face, he wasn't as Bruce answered, "Yes, Paul. I was serious."
"Figures," Paul said. "We need to put in fields around us. If we can turn them three times a year, we can grow enough food for that many with some to spare. Can I ask how many more we can expect?" The table became quiet with everyone following the conversation, except PJ, who was killing his food with his spoon, giving out little karate yells with each jab.
I think PJ been somehow listening to Danny's hand-to-hand combat class, Naruto thought jokingly.
"Paul, I don't know," Bruce said. "If we find several thousand and they want to come here and accept the rules, then we will bring them. If we fill up all our barracks, then we will send other survivors to Marcus' farm until they are over a thousand."
"Two is one and one is none," Naruto added. "That can apply to survivors too. I'm sure Marcus and Carroll will understand.:
"Thank you Naruto," Bruce responded. "If we find that many more, we will build more barracks."
"Bruce, you told me to speak my mind, so I am. With that many people it would only take two bad crops years to wipe us out, and then we all die. Not now, because we have years of food, but let;s say ten years from now. In that time alone, I feel we will double our population here, just with the people we have. I don't want to be held responsible if we can't feed everyone."
Bruce smiled, seeing what Paul was trying to say. "Paul, no one will blame you for anything like that. If anyone is to blame, it would be me. What I want you and everyone here to see is we have to bring in people that want to work, who will fight, and believe in something bigger than themselves. Humanity is hanging by a thread here. For a stable population, we need tens of thousands."
Paul nodded. "I know, Bruce. You're always thinking five steps ahead of where we are now. We only have a hundred and ten acres here inside the fence and its filling up fast. Military vehicles, helicopters, more solar panels, more buildings, and so on."
"Paul, Marcus has over seven hundred acres of fields at his farm and there are several more around here. We can always throw a fence around them and farm those. I don't think blues will climb a fence to eat produce, as long as we can keep the deer out."
"We can have guards around the fields to keep an eye out for deer and divert them to prevent any blues from entering the fields." Shikamaru added. "We will need some to look out for thieves breaking in the fields anyways."
"Thank you Shikamaru," Bruce responded.
Paul laughed, throwing his fork down. "That is what I mean. I'm just looking inside this fence. You are looking at the world. I'm sorry I let something like that bother me, but it has been since you wanted the other barracks bullet bigger."
"Don't be sorry, Paul. A problem can't have a solution if others don't know about the problem," Bruce answered.
Supper continued, and when everyone was finished, the family went inside to help Buffy clean everything they had brought from her house. The pictures were hung on the wall, and Buffy put her stuff in her room and a jewelry box Bruce got for her in her bathroom.
The next three days went by in a blur as more supply bunkers were made in the back fields, and the barracks were started. The expansion slab for the hall was poured on Wednesday, as was the new school. Buffy started her morning lessons with Stephanie, who turned out to be an excellent teacher.
It was Friday morning and Danny and Buffy had just finished teaching a class on hand to hand combat. Buffy was getting her gear on when Danny stopped her. "Buffy, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah," Buffy replied as she stopped all movement.
Danny laughed at Buffy as she stood frozen in place. "You don't have to freeze like that, Buffy. I just wanted to talk to you act around the clan. They are part of us, just like the family. What I'm saying is that you act cold around them, like they're going to hurt you or us. You're enjoying the patrols too much. I'm not saying I don't, but you have to realize that there is more to life than fighting," Danny tried explaining to Buffy.
"How am I being mean to them?"
"Buffy, you very rarely acknowledge anyone outside the family when they talked to you. You don't really talk to anyone unless they're a warrior. I know you sometimes talk to Moegi, but as a ninja, she's also a warrior. When Marty asked you to the dance, I thought you were going to pull a gun on him. Mama asked me to say something to you before she goes to Dad," Danny informed Buffy.
"What have I done wrong?" Buffy asked with worry on her face.
"Nothing BB, but no one wants to see you shut off from the world. That's not living."
"Okay, what do I have to do to make Mama happy?" Buffy replied, looking at Danny.
Danny smiled at Buffy and hugged her. Danny knew that Buffy would do whatever it took to make Mama happy. Danny sat and talked for over an hour to Buffy until Stephanie called for Buffy over the radio. Buffy answered and told Stephanie she was on her way.
"You did good Danny," a voice said.
Danny turned to Naruto. "She probably listen just as good if you had talked to her," Danny said.
"True, but I thought you should try first since you and Buffy grown so close," Naruto said. "Not to mention your scheduling gives you more time to talk to Buffy than me."
"Well hopefully we don't need you to speak to Buffy, but just in case..." Danny said.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Naruto said before puffing into smoke and disappeared.
"Typical, shadow clone," Danny muttered as the clan was used to having conversations with one of Naruto's shadow clones by now.
...
That afternoon, Bruce and Naruto met with their students at the firing range for their semi-combine class. On the tables were several different submachine guns for Bruce's students. Bruce went down the line, showing each how they worked and how to disassembled them. Then they moved to the firing line. After an hour, Bruce told them to pick the one they liked the most. Each of his students grabbed an H MP-7.Even Buffy had put down her P-90. Ninjas of course picked a glock. After they had their weapons, Bruce started the movement drills, running back and forth from the targets. Max, ever present beside Bruce, ran beside him, never behind or in front of him, as they ran alongside the students. When they were finished, Bruce called out infractions and the push-ups were owed--all from his own students.
"Ninjas are use to using weapons while on the move. Guns just are a more dangerous," Naruto said.
Bruce gave Naruto the finger as his students dropped to pay off their tally, Bruce looked across the field to see a group of people watching them. When all of Bruce's students were done and rubbing their arms, Bruce asked, "What are all those people doing over there?"
"They watch us, and when we leave, they come over here and copy what we just did," Mindy replied.
"I sometimes monitor them to make sure no one gets hurt," Naruto admitted. "They only do it on their free time so they're not breaking any clan rules."
"They do what?" Bruce asked in disbelief.
Stephanie looked at Bruce, shaking her head. "Bruce, when you get around guns, you have a one track mind. I'm really surprise Debbie has never gotten jealous. I know several times I've gotten jealous watching you around weapons."
Bruce didn't want to tell Stephanie that there had been several times Debbie had gotten jealous over guns. "What are you trying to say, Stephanie?" Bruce asked, wondering if Stephanie was going to take the guns away.
Naruto answered, "Bruce, they watch us because you're teaching, and they all know you're the best. I know because even I offered to teach them about handguns."
Bruce replied, "Well, I think I have a solution to their problem," Bruce waved at the group of about twenty people to come over to them.
When the group stopped, Bruce asked, "Naruto and Mindy tells me you been using your free time copying my lessons here, is that right?"
"Yes sir," a girl in her twenties answered.
"Okay, form flour even lines," Bruce said pointing at the group. Then he turned to his four students. "Teach them what you learned about machine guns today. Then, on days Naruto and I co-train, we will allow for people to sign up for class afterwards and Naruto and his students will continue teaching you on hand guns, we will allow for people to sign up for class afterwards, but only if you have free time and have earned your firearm pin."
Bruce looked at Angela, I want you to set up two classes in the mornings to teach those that can't make the afternoon class. Any of your classmates that are free are to help you."
Angela stomped her foot, replying, Okay," not thrilled with her new task.
"Angela, you owe me ten for acting like a little pussy in front of students," Bruce told her. She dropped down and started knocking out pushups.
Several people in the group laughed at Angela, causing Bruce to yell out. "Everyone in the group get down and give me ten pushups! You never laugh at a team member when they make a mistake during training and have to pay for it! After you finish with the first ten, do another ten because you were laughing at an instructor!"
The group dropped down to the ground like they had been shot as Bruce yelled at them. It took several in the group a few minutes to complete the pushups, but they all did them. Of course the ninjas were the first to complete them. If Bruce made his family do them, none in the group had the nerve to tell them no.
"Instructors, each of you grab a different weapon and teach your group." Bruce yelled.
Naruto was about to leave with his students since they weren't needed.
"Hold it, Naruto, you will need to hear this for our next lesson." Bruce hollered. Naruto stopped knowing better than to skip this. "As instructors, when you make a mistake, you and your class owe me ten pushups. That way mistakes are remembered by all. When one of your group makes a mistake and you don't catch it, you and your student owe me ten." The four looked at Bruce in shock, each of them thinking to themselves Louisiana was fixing to be pushed below sea level.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.
"Naruto! You and Shikamaru owe me ten pushups!" Bruce yelled making his point.
"Nice one, Shikamaru, you just proved his point," Naruto said as they dropped down.
Naruto and Shikamaru finish their pushups and left. Bruce and his group didn't return until dark.
Debbie looked over at the four, smiling, "Naruto tells me you're teaching now. How do you like that?"
Angela looked at Debbie with a scowl. "Debbie, I don't want to talk to you now. I have a feeling you knew this was going to happen."
Naruto snorted.
"Oh I did. That's how you really learn, when you teach it," Debbie replied, giggling.
Angela looked at Bruce. "They're laughing at a team member."
"We aren't training now, so we can laugh at each other," Bruce informed her.
"How come Naruto wasn't forced to do that when he was teaching Konohamaru Moegi and Udon?" Angela asked
"I had no idea what Naruto was teaching them so I had no idea if they were making a mistake or not," Bruce said. "Other than that I never saw them laugh at Naruto or at each other so I saw no need."
Debbie looked at Angela. "If you think I didn't have to do pushups when I helped teach, think again, sister. Teaching Steve, I thought my arms were going to fall off."
She looked back at Debbie. "Debbie, I can't feel my arms. I was so terrified one of my students was going to kill someone or themselves. I wasn't going to teach them right, and they would die later on when it mattered. My heart was beating out of my chest."
"That's teaching," Bruce answered.
"I have to agree with Bruce there," Yamato said. "I only been Naruto's Sakura's and Sai's team captain for a short time and even I learn sometimes the best teachings are better off out in the field no matter how dangerous it can be."
The command group started eating when Danny looked up at Bruce and asked. "Daddy, how come we have so many girls here? Girls only outnumbered boys in America by a very small ratio, like less than one percent, Here it's like three to one."
Bruce opened his mouth to answer, but Stephanie beat him. "During any great disturbance like plagues and wars, men band together to fight, while women are left behind to fend for themselves like we are now. In the Crusades, there were whole villages in Europe that didn't have but one or two men left behind. I'm actually surprised that we have as many men as we do," Stephanie answered, stopping only when she noticed everyone was looking at her.
Bruce laughed and continued. "She's right, but also men are seen as competition, while women are seen as property by attackers. It's stupid of course, but those with little or no intelligence see it that way. With the men fighting off the attackers, they get killed while the women and the kids escape. Even the reports we have heard from the government indicate they are holding women of breeding age separate from the rest of the population. We should have a lot more kids here, but as vulnerable as they are to blues, they don't last long alone."
Danny shook his head in understanding as she replied, "I'm glad I had you for a daddy instead of some d-."
The command group finished eating and headed to the house for the Friday night meeting. When everyone was inside, they started stripping off gear, dropping it to the floor. Paul stood up in front to start them off.
"Okay, we have the slabs poured for the expansion of the hall, school, and all five barracks. Four more new storage areas are now underground in the fields and thanks to Yamato, already covered them up. We just have to fill them up with supplies. I have three containers in the front yard for the new mission control. The area for the new machine shop has been dug out and the slab poured."
"Paul, how long does it take us to put up a completed barracks?" Bruce asked.
"Four days after the slab is down" Yamato said. "I know because I'm over the wood supply Paul uses to build them."
"He's right," Paul agreed.
"You're kidding, right? It took us two weeks on the first one, and we had more people working on it," Bruce asked in disbelief."
"Bruce, we've built five of them. The construction crew can build one in their sleep now. By the time we get to the last one, I'll put it at two days. That's with the forty working during the day and ten at night."
"Holy s-!" Mike replied.
Bruce nodded his head, agreeing with Mike, then looked at Paul. "All right, since they can build at that pace, cut them in half and only work one this week. Let's concentrate on the hall, school, machine shop, and working on the perimeter firing positions. We need the watch towers and firing positions Mike drew up last week pretty fast. How long for just that?" Bruce inquired.
Paul thought for a minute, then answered. "Since we have two barracks with double the capacity of the first ones we built and don't have anyone in them, why don't I pull all the construction crews to the hall and school? With that many people working, I can have both done by Thursday. We can then start on the machine shop. The perimeter is just filling some sandbags and digging a few holes along the fence and then building some towers. We will be done with that by next week."
"Paul, that's not possible," Bruce replied, thinking of Paul was over stating their capabilities.
"Not really," Shikamaru and Yamato said.
"Bruce, we have almost four hundred people here. Over three hundred can work on projects. H-, even the kids as young as nine help out. You're thinking in old world terms when construction crews had to be paid and were small to keep the cost down. Almost everyone here now knows construction and by that, I mean plumbing, electrical, painting, dry walling, laying brick, and of course laying concrete. Granted, when we started, most didn't know which end of a hammer to use and we mostly rely on Naruto and his friends' ninjutsu to help speed things along. Now, it's a completely different story."
"Don't forget patrols start next week," Bruce challenged.
"Whoopie do," Paul replied in a flat tone. "So I lose what, twenty to forty people a day? Even with guard duty, kitchen duty, green house duty, farm duty, and all the other little things that we do to make this place run, you can take all of the ninjas with you on patrol and we still have over two hundred people a da y to put on work projects. Before you start wanting me to build skyscrapers, remember these aren't big projects, just small building projects," Paul added before Bruce let his mind run wild.
"What about the water tower and all the fuel storage tanks we brought back with us on that last run?" Bruce asked, trying to come to grips with how fast they could move on projects."
"The water tower was finished Monday and already online. It stands a hundred feet off the ground and hold fifty gallons," Yamato said. "Paul had me over it thinking my water style jutsus might fill it up faster."
"As for the storage tanks we brought back, they won't take a large group of people to put them in. Ten people running heavy equipment digging holes. Then they run pipes from the tanks to inside the fence. I only asked for three more of us and two for Marcus. Your brought back ten of them, all thirty gallon tanks, not the three or five thousand tanks I wanted."
"That's not on me this time!" Naruto said. "I had no part in selecting the tanks."
Ignoring Naruto, Paul continued. "Marcus can only take two, so we will put the remainder here with what we already have. That will give us a storage capacity of four hundred thousand gallons underground. Our current usage is two thousand gallons a week, which we can't maintain, because we are running out of stuff to do with the heavy equipment. Even if we did, it is over a six month supply underground, not including the full tanker trucks we have at the end of the road, each of which holds around nine thousand gallons."
Bruce couldn't say anything as Paul waited on a reply. Seeing Bruce take a breath, Paul started again. "Before you ask about the helicopters, the air force base in town has over two million gallons of jet fuel underground. Jet fuel is closer to kerosene than gasoline so it break down slower. I figure we have enough fuel for five years before we need to worry about producing our own. Not because we will run out, but you can only stabilize fuel for so long. If you remember, when you went to Shreveport, we started treating the large storage tanks in town." Paul stared at Bruce and asked. "Can I continue now?" Bruce just nodded his head, coming to terms with what Paul had told him.
Paul said. "Bruce, you gave each one here a task to oversee. Let us do it. You concentrated on keeping us alive. Then I want to ask you about the large supply of paintball equipment I found amongst the supplies." Paul looked back at the group and continued his briefing. When he was finished he asked for questions. After what Bruce went through, no one wanted to ask one.
"The paintball equipment is for combat training," Bruce told Paul. "All right, we have twelve storage areas completed with twenty containers each. Six are buried in the northwest field and six in the northeast field. The ones in the northwest field will be odd starting north to south one, three, five and so on. On the north ea st they are even two, four, six and so on, also north to south. I want the others that are being built to continue to be offset one in each field," Bruce explained then shut his mouth, waiting on someone else to start.
Seeing no one else getting up, Bruce stood up, looking at Paul. "Paul, I'm sorry I doubted you. I remember these people when we drug them out of their hole and brought them to the farm. I should have known they were survivors and had the ability to adapt. Fortunately, it seems most of the worthless people have died off."
"That's not true, Bruce," Temari spoke up. "We have two problems here now, a male and female, both twenty four and worthless. Bill has record of them missing several work details and guard duty. Shikamaru has even reported the male showing up for guard duty wasted this morning. Bill had tried to put them on s- detail, but I checked with Jim before this meeting, and neither had show."
"They're the only ones we are having problems with," Bill added. "H-, even that stupid b- Green is working, not with enthusiasm, but she is working."
"I've had put two others on s- detail this week, and no one else wants to follow in their footsteps," Temari finished.
"We throw them out in the morning," Bruce replied, not even wanting to discuss the matter.
Nancy looked at Bruce. "Are you sure, Bruce? We could let the clan vote again."
"No, I let the clan decide the liberal's fate, but the s- wad's fate is mine," Bruce answered with a tone that said the discussion was over.
Nancy nodded as Bruce sat down and pointed to Mike. Mike stood up and went over the work on the perimeter. Shikamaru came up next giving request send by the work crew. Debbie and Nancy gave the reports of work duty and class attendance, which was almost perfect. Mille stood up next and asked if the kitchen could keep small snacks out at all times and not just at night for those that work. Everyone agreed that was a good idea and told Millie to go ahead. Sakura gave her report on the medical training and medical herb production.
"Ino has requested we either stock up on dresses and dressed clothes nexti time we decide have a dance or anything like that, or we have classes on clothes making," Sakura said.
"She just wants an excuse to wear new dresses," Shikamaru complained.
"We'll see what we can do, but the next event is Christmas and we won't have the time to do another errand for Santa," Bruce said. He didn't want to tell anyone but one of the stops they made for the shopping trip was for a dress for Ino and other girls they seen at the dance wearing dresses besides Temari on Naruto's suggestion.
Sakura nodded and sat down. Jake and Matt stood up next. Jake started as Matt hung a map over the fireplace. "We have found a lot of survivors in the area around us. We can't count them, but within sixty mile radius, I'm putting the figure around eight hundred. We have the UAVs flying expanding circles around us and have found activity at a lot of houses in the thermal field. Before we move out further, Matt and I wanted to make sure we didn't miss anyone close by. From what we can tell none of the groups we've found are gangs. It looks like they all move around freely."
Matt took over. "Each of the red dots is where we have survivor activity. I just wanted to tell everyone that the house Daddy Bruce checked out with the stupid family that didn't want to join us has no activity. They either left or died. Jake and I think the latter. When we flew around the house, the UAV found several windows out and the front door wide open. Now, back to the knees we have found. If we start patrols it will take us a week to bring them in. From the video we have of several sites, they look very malnourished and weak."
Bruce looked at Jake. "How did you come up with eight hundred if you've not seen that many?"
"Well, in the mornings and evenings, we count footprints with the thermal camera. Then I take account the size of the building and make an educated guess."
"What are you giving as a margin of error?" Mike asked.
"Plus or minus fifty," Matt answered, as Mike let out a soft whistle.
Bruce nodded, and then asked with a grin, "Have you shot a hellfire yet?"
Jake laughed. "No Dad, we only have a hundred and forty-four until we bring in the rest from Polk, but tomorrow we're going to use some of the training hellfires. We have only sent up one UAV armed and found out when you hang s- on the wing, your fuel consumption goes to h-. We cracked into NOAA satellites and have twenty seven military and NSA satellites online. That's all the satellites dishes are for in the east field."
"Oh, okay, but I want to watch the missile shoot," Bruce said, then stood up as Matt and Jake sat down. "Now, just to let everyone know, tomorrow after breakfast, the family is going to work on the forty foot horse trailer until noon. We are going to build it to accommodate survivors we get in the field that want to come back. Monday, I start flying lessons, as do some others here. Tomorrow afternoon, I have to help get the simulators in the top of the barn since no one is living there now. Now I know Jake and Matt are signed up. Who else?" Mike, Danny, Stephanie, Willie, Paul, Steve, and Debbie raised their hands. Bruce wasn't surprise Naruto didn't raise his hand since he can fly with one of his transformations.
Bruce looked at Debbie and Nancy, who arranged the schedules. "So everyone here that isn't a ninja is in the first class?"
Debbie looked up at Bruce. "I don't remember your name on the first class roster."
"I'm the boss here, and I learned before anyone!"
Debbie smiled, knowing she had pushed him a litttle too far as she replied, "Put it back in your pants, baby. You were the first one on the training roster, but only Steve and Mike will be in the first class. The rest of us will wait until the second class."
"Don't be playing with me like that," Bruce warned her. Then he asked Debbie, "How many students in the first class?"
"Twenty totalin the first class. One of the soldiers from Ft. Polk is a helicopter mechanic, and he is starting a class of twenty also. Our airplane pilot is starting with ten, and we will get a single engine plane for him to train people on. He is qualified for dual engine, but we can't land one here yet." Debbie looked at Bruce. "Don't worry, I have you signed up for the mechanic class and airplane lessons after you learned the helicopter."
Bruce smiled like a schoolboy as Debbie spoke.
"How come there aren't any survivors close to any towns?" Sakura asked, studying the map.
"There are none. The closest ones are about two miles from the village with a population of five hundred," Jake responded.
"Okay, Debbie Connor and Naruto, you're on my team. We will build it tomorrow at supper. Jake and Marry, build you a ten man team. Danny and Matt, you will build your ten man team also. We will go out once a week with each team rotating an extra day. Marcus will send out recovery patrols on Friday that way they can work on their defenses, housing, and storage. Any questions?" Bruce asked.
Connor raised his hand and Bruce pointed to him. Connor stood up, stating, "Bruce I just want to say I don't want you making first contact with the survivors."
"Do you think I scare them?" Bruce asked a little perturbed.
"No, we don't need you getting killed trying to bring in a group. I along with the majority here, would be happy if you stayed at the farm, but that will never happen," Connor gave his opinión with several others agreeing.
"First, you're right, it won't happen. Next, Mike is here so command is secure," Bruce replied, getting tired of people arguing with him.
Mike looked up at Bruce. "We've been through this, Bruce. You're way too valuable to the survival of the clan. Not only do you think of s- that no one else does to keep the clan going, but you think out a battle before it starts."
"Wel you have Willie and Shikamaru here now. Willie has combat experience also and Shikamaru proven to be a great strategist." Bruce shot back.
"Why did you have to drag me into this?" Shikamaru complained.
WIllie put his hands up. "Don't bring me into this. Bruce, you are a natural leader and tactician. I saw your video footage of a one-man, multi-chain ambush of those bikers. Yeah, I would've set up one chain on the road, but not for the relief that showed up."
"Doesn't matter. I'm going!" Bruce replied, acting like a child as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Conner shook his head. "No one said you couldn't, as if you would listen to them." He mumbled the last. "All I'm saying is let someone else attempt contact. Heck send in Naruto or one of his summonings. That fox Shippo came in handy when we met Bill's group."
"I always approach with Buffy or Debbie to show we're not hostels," Bruce answered.
"I'm not worried about Buffy. No one would shoot her first, which they would find out later was a big mistake. Then, losing Debbie would be just as bad as losing you. I'm not saying losing Naruto wouldn't be so bad but I don't see anyone getting a lock on him before he kills them first, unless they get extremely lucky."
If anyone in the command group would have been looking at Debbie, they would have seen shock spread across her face.
"How am I just as important as Bruce?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto, when you talk to people, not only you make everyone listen, but you make people believe in whatever you say," Connor said. "All those women we saved from that gang still telling others they owe their lives to you for that speech you gave them."
"Which speech was that?" Shikamaru asked.
"It was before we found you with Willie's group," Sakura explained.
"Bruce, this family has been preparing for this s- for a long time. This family has accumulated knowledge that this clan needs to know. Let Naruto approach the survivors with Buffy. I'm sure Buffy be safe in Naruto's hands."
Bruce didn't like it, but Connor was making sense. "I'll go with Naruto," Buffy said.
Bruce nodded and finished up the meeting, then headed upstairs to his bedroom. Debbie and Angela went to get the kids out of Susan's bedroom. Stephanie ran upstairs to find Bruce getting ready for bed. As she hung up her gear and rifle, she turned around, facing Bruce. "You know Conner was right, don't you? You are the most valuable person here, Bruce."
"I know I'm valuable, Stephanie. But I know something that the others don't," Bruce replied. Looking directly in Stephanie's eyes, he said, "I'm going to die of old age, long after I'm of any use to anyone. My fear is I will outlive everyone and everything I love, dying alone."
Stephanie looked at Bruce with a blank expression as he climbed into bed and rolled over to his side. She was still looking at him when Debbie and Angela carried in armfuls of sleeping kids. Stephanie helped put the kids in bed and climbed in with Angela and Debbie to go to sleep.
It was several days later before Stephanie told Debbie what Bruce had told her. Debbie shocked Stephanie even more when she replied, "I know Bruce is going to die of old age, but I'm working on his fear now. I just hope Naruto be most help before he and his friends return to their own world."
A/N: I felt the ending of the chapter where Bruce reveals his fear to Stephanie was important not only as part of Bruce's character but also why Debbie is trying to prepare everyone for her death. The discussion about Naruto's skills vs his safety will come up again later on but needless to say hard to argue about protecting a guy who can blast away a sea of blues with just three shadow clones to cover all sides.
