Disclaimer- I don't own Warcraft or Naruto.
Also on my end the formatting is fine, but when i post some paragraphs get chopped up awkwardly. I apologize as I'm not sure how to fix it.
Let me know what you think! I'll answer any questions at the beginning of the next chapter. No spoilers of course.
XXXXXX
Naruto blinked slowly in confusion, before the purple demon continued talking. "It be okay if ya are a gnome, I don have a problem wid dem." He seemed to be nervous. Perhaps he thought he had offended the blonde shinobi. The dark green one to Naruto's right chimed in.
"I have a problem with gnomes." he said with a shrewd glare.
Finally Naruto huffed in annoyance. "I'm not a gnome, I don't even know what that is! What are you?!" He shot back, not sure if he should be insulted or not. The green one became angry at his question and the purple one seemed confused.
"You really expect me to believe you have never seen an orc before?!"
Naruto snorted, "Orc? What kind of demon is that?"
The orc flew into a rage, pulling at his bindings, his muscles bulging with exertion. "You dare call me a demon! I'll rip out your flipping tongue brat!"
"Calm down Grug, he be lost." The purple one said with a tilt of his head, his braided dark blue hair swaying in the desert wind. "Before we talk anymore, wouldja be so kind and release us from dese posts?" He asked politely enough, but Naruto wasn't so sure.
"You've been imprisoned for a reason, tell me why and I may release you. Lie and I'll know it. Then you'll have more to worry about than this heat." Naruto allowed the threat to sink in, his tanto gripped tightly in his gloved fist. He could remove both their heads with a flick of his wrist if he wanted to. Yet he stayed his hand, if he was going to survive this place he would need information, and possibly a guide.
The purple one grinned around his tusks. "We stood against tyranny."
It sounded heroic, yet Naruto frowned in thought. Did he really want to put a target on his back so soon after arriving here? He had no idea the political, or military strength of this tyrant. Then again, while in ANBU he had helped topple several regimes for the Leaf Village.
As he was mulling over his choices his ears twitched. He heard their voices, speaking in a language he didn't recognize. One of them laughed. He heard two sets of heavy footfalls. Their armor clanking loudly.
His nose twitched. He could smell the sweat that clung to their bodies. The oils used on their armor. He could even smell the dried blood on their weapons. He did not know their strength, so he did what ninjas do best. He vanished.
XXXXXX
Erlok's jaw opened in dismay as his would-be savior disappeared in a cloud of smoke. A moment later and it blew away with the wind. First he looked left. Grug had a dumbfounded look on his face, Erlok was sure he was mirroring it. Then he looked right, nothing but desert. The Darkspear troll cursed in Zandali. That's when he saw them.
Two Kor'Kron orcs were marching towards them, having just crested the dune in front of them. They hefted their large axes on their armored shoulders. Their expressions hidden by their horned helms.
The prisoners glared in unison as the two orcs stopped in front of the posts. Erlok could feel the smugness radiating from them.
"Still alive? Surprising!" One said with a chuckle in orcish.
Erlok scowled, "It only been a day." He grumbled under his breath. He coughed violently as the Elite closest to him gave him a swift kick in his ribs.
"Like I said, surprising." He turned his gaze to Grug and scoffed. "What a waste. You had potential Grug'Narr, and you threw it all away. You know I heard Warlord Azure'eye disowned you when he got the news. You want to know what he said?" He lowered his voice into a mocking tone, "No blood of mine would betray the Horde. I'd kill the bastard myself if I were there!"
The two Kor'Kron burst out laughing. Grug'Narr let loose a deep growl from his chest, earning him a backhand from an armored fist. Grug shook his head and spat a glob of blood into the sand. His cheek swelling almost immediately.
"How about we just kill you now? No one would know, or care." One of them snarked. "It's what Hellscream would want. Traitorous heads, mounted on the spires of Orgrimmar."
As one they hefted their battle axes. Ready to deal the killing blow, Erlok closed his eyes in acceptance. After all, he knew exactly what he was going to say to the Loa of Death.
But death never came. Instead he felt a splatter of something warm on his face, causing him to flinch. He opened his eyes warily to see their tormentors clutching at their throats. Blood flowing like wine between their fingers.
Erlok looked between himself and Grug to see the masked person from before, his stance suggesting he had just swung his blade. As the bodies fell he began wiping the blood from his weapon, before sheathing it in a flourish.
"HA! Not today Bwonsamdi!" Erlok laughed heartily.
XXXXXX
It was quick work, releasing Erlok and Grug from their bonds. As the two stood and stretched their muscles Naruto was quickly made aware that like the two he had just killed his companions were also very large. Easily twice the size of a full grown human. They were warriors, without a doubt. Introductions were quick, as it was unanimously agreed to leave the area as soon as possible. With the weapons of the dead looted they began their journey.
The trio made their way deeper into the wilderness before making a camp as night began to fall. Using the axes from the dead Kor'Kron, gathering enough wood for a fire was a simple affair. The young Ninja questioned the wisdom of lighting a fire while being hunted, only for Grug to explain that they would most likely have a day or two before the garrison would notice the missing Kor'Kron. The guards patrolled the roads of Durotar and would be gone from Razor Hill for a few days before another pair took their place.
As they sat around the warmth, Naruto unsealed some shinobi rations for the hungry fugitives. After some convincing the orc and troll began eating.
As they ate Naruto looked up at the stars, fighting the growing dismay when he realized he recognized nothing. The young shinobi sighed tiredly before glancing at the troll, who was struggling to use a pair of chopsticks. Fumbling with the thin pieces of wood with his large three digit hand. After a moment he finally just threw the utensils away and began shoveling the food into his mouth with his fingers.
Despite the situation Naruto let a small chuckle leave his lips. This caused the troll to turn towards him, a curious look on his face. A look of sheepish realization crossed his exotic features before he also let a barking laugh out to the night sky. Grug ignored both of them in favor of finishing his food. The troll finished laughing. Wiping a tear of mirth from his eye as he caught his breath.
Naruto's smile fell. "Erlok, I have a question."
"Ya mon?" He asked curiously.
Naruto pulled a scroll from one of his pouches and handed it to the troll. "Are you well traveled?"
The troll grinned as he took the scroll from his hand. "Well traveled? Mon, I been to da highest peaks in Northrend. Hundreds of Islands in da sea. Even UNDA da sea!" He opened the scroll to reveal a map of the Elemental Countries. He observed the map silently for a moment, before turning a serious gaze towards the blonde. "Ya be a long way from home, mon."
Naruto's shoulders sagged. He reached up and slowly removed his mask, revealing his face to this world for the first time. He turned a sad smile to his new companions. "I suppose I'm going to need a guide then."
XXXXXX
Erlok was surprised to learn that he and Grug's savior was a thirteen year old human. A human who seemingly came from another world. Which wasn't as crazy as it sounded, Grug's people came from another world after all. When presented with this information the troll had to gently let down the young boy. The last time a portal between worlds was opened it took very specific circumstances that may never be repeated. The blonde nodded, but the mere thought that it had happened before gave a sliver of hope.
Naruto was fairly tight lipped about his life. Only telling them that he was part of his people's warrior elite, and that he was testing a new transportation technique that sent him here.
Erlok was not so secretive. He told his companions of his life as a champion of the Horde, who fought the Burning Legion in Outland, and the Scourge in Northrend. How he led men and women into battle against the Alliance, and hunted ferocious beasts wherever he found them. He seemed particularly fond of his hunting stories. He ended with how he was imprisoned out in the desert with Grug.
Grug'Narr was possibly less willing to share personal information than Naruto. Much to the troll's annoyance. What he did share was his plan now that they were free from the posts.
"We should go to the Echo Isles. It is well known that Vol'jin is no friend to Garrosh. He could help us, supplies, information, and a safe haven." The orc rubbed the growing stubble on his chin in thought.
Erlok shook his head, "I would agree if we had just escaped. But we killed two Kor'Kron from de Razor Hill garrison. Dey will come lookin, and knowin one of da prisoners was a troll, Sen'jin Village will be de first place dey look." Erlok looked pointedly at his companions.
Grug spoke up after a stretch of silence. "What do you propose, troll?"
Erlok added a log to the fire, staring at the rising flames, silently asking for an answer from the spirits. "We distance ourselves from da Horde. We should go to de Eastern Kingdoms, lay low until an organized revolt rises against Hellscream's tyranny. I be hearing whispers of war crimes on dis new land mass to de south. Perhaps da people of Azeroth will rise soon, and put into place a Warchief wid honor."
XXXXXX
No one else had any better ideas so they all agreed to leave in the morning. Erlok insisted on taking the first watch while the other two slept. Naruto layed down on a mat he had unsealed, but did not sleep. Years of shinobi training prevented him from falling asleep in the presence of strangers. But even he had to rest. He put his mind into a meditative state, allowing his body to recoup while his senses stayed alert. This technique didn't give as much energy as sleeping but would allow him to counter any attacks to his prone form.
He allowed his thoughts to wander. Would he ever get home? Did he want to return? How did he feel being so far away? He was too mentally exhausted to sort out his feelings on the matter. Too many revelations for one day. A new world, new lands, new people. Perhaps it was time for a new Naruto. The blonde smiled, subconsciously noting that he had smiled more in the past few hours than he had in the past several years.
He found himself excited for this new adventure.