A long one today! Let me know what you think. I'm excited for you guys to read the next one!

Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto or Warcraft.

XXXXXX

Erlok was a lot of things. He embodied all the skills of a great hunter. Near perfect marksmanship. The ability to track anything, living or dead. He could tame or kill even the most ferocious beasts. He's led soldiers through THREE wars and survived with nary a scratch. He was a lot of things, but he was NOT jealous.

The troll kept repeating this thought as he watched his young companion walk on water, while he and Grug were forced to wade through the murky, stinking waters of SouthFury Watershed. It was entertaining at first, but after nearly an hour of soaked pants the novelty began to wear off rather quickly.

The hunter looked up, examining the sun's place in the sky. It would be midday soon, at the rate they were traveling the party would be on the other side of the river well before nightfall. He swatted a mosquito that had landed on his nose in annoyance. Another thing he was definitely not jealous of was that bugs seemed to be repulsed by the little human. Yes, getting out of this swamp couldn't come soon enough, the troll thought bitterly.

Naruto was amused at the grumpy looks he was receiving. It wasn't his fault he was trained in basic chakra manipulation. Walking on water was a genin skill. The thin sheen of chakra that covered his skin that was being used as bug repellant however, was taught to him by Inu. He silently thanked the silver haired man as he passed another cloud of bugs.

He did feel a little guilty, but then he took another look at the swampy water and the guilt went away. They were about halfway through the marsh when they came upon a flooded farmstead. The buildings were old and rotting. There was an air of melancholy from the lost homes.

He knew that at least seven quilboar were hiding in the ruins. Waiting to ambush them. He held his tongue though. This presented an opportunity for his companions to prove they were capable. That they were indeed who they say they were. So, he quietly observed.

Erlok stiffened, raising a fist to signal a halt. Grug immediately adopted a combat stance, his axe held in a two handed grip. Naruto simply stood still. They all waited, not making a sound save for their steady breathing.

A chorus of squeals signaled the attack. Four pigmen charged from inside the house, wielding hatchets and armored in boiled leather. Three more appeared on the roof, firing arrows from shortbows. Naruto idly caught one of the arrows an inch away from his whiskered face.

"I will handle the archers." As he said this he dropped the arrow and launched himself into the air, over the charging quilboar and landed deftly onto the roof. The archers stumbled back in surprise.

Erlok and Grug had only a moment to be impressed by the jump before they counter charged their approaching foe. Grug'Narr let loose a terrible warcry as he began his approach, "LOK'TAR OGAR!"

Naruto pressed his attack, slashing the neck of the nearest swine. It gurgled pitifully before falling into the water below. He could've ended the whole fight before it even began. A single jutsu would've saved them all the trouble, but then the young ninja could not observe his companions in action.

"If these beasts are truly considered a threat we could be ruling this world in days!"

Kyuubi barked a mocking laugh that echoed in his mind. Naruto grimaced. The Bijuu had been quiet all day and now it decides to speak? Though its words rang true. Did this realm have a single challenge for him? Was he destined to dominate every foe for the rest of his days?

"I wonder how long it will take for your companions to realize they're traveling with a murderer. Perhaps when they find out, you'll have to kill them too."

"Silence fox." The Bijuu merely laughed again.

Naruto lazily swiped away a hatchet with his tanto. Hardly paying any mind to the rabid pigmen before him. His eyes were on the orc and troll below.

Grug had charged headlong into the group. Naruto believed this to be foolish until he saw the quilboar split up to avoid the green tank. Erlok was behind the orc and began to engage two of the pigs, pushing them further away, effectively dividing their strength.

Grug gave a swift kick to the chest of the closest pigman, sending it flailing into the water. He followed up with a horizontal swing at the other, cleaving through the standing quilboar. Its torso fell away from its legs in a spray of gore, covering the warrior in red.

The orc then placed a large foot onto the chest of the still downed swine. Pushing its head under the murky water. It thrashed for a few moments, trying to surface, before going limp.

Naruto killed another archer, disemboweling the creature with his tanto. One roof pig left.

Erlok on the other hand was having trouble. It was obvious that melee was not his preferred way of fighting. He swung the axe to keep the enemy at bay, but didn't go for any actual attacks. Waiting and observing his enemy for any openings. Not taking any chances while out of his element.

Finally an opportunity came when one of his enemies rushed forward, hatchet raised high to strike. Instead of raising the battle axe to meet his opponent, Erlok backhanded the quilboar. The struck pig clutched its bleeding snout and backed away.

During the altercation, Erlok failed to see the other quilboar charge, and as its companion backed away it launched itself into a tackle. Grappling the troll into the water.

The swine bellowed a victory squeal as it tried to drown the hunter. Naruto was about to intervene when a purple hand exploded from under the water, carrying a sharp stone. The pig's eyes widened in surprise as its throat was gouged with the rock. Its grip slackened and it fell over, dead. Erlok burst from the water, breathing heavily with a wild look in his eyes.

As he caught his breath he noticed the pigman with the bloodied snout was charging him again. The troll had dropped his axe after he had been tackled. With no time to look for it he raised his fists in preparation.

Naruto had just finished off the last archer. He pulled his tanto from the eye of the pig before turning to watch his guides. The blonde was impressed. For beings without chakra they were indeed formidable. The pigman was a few steps away from Erlok when an arrow pierced the side of its head, causing the beast to fall snout first into the water.

Naruto quickly looked to the direction the missile had come from only seeing a flash of a purple cloak then it was gone. Now that was unsettling. A being with no shinobi training was trailing them, and Naruto didn't sense them. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

He could hear Kyuubi purring in his mind, "Perhaps we'll be challenged after all."

The battle was over, now the looting began. Naruto bent down and grabbed a shortbow and all the arrows from the three dead swine. Along with what he assumed was coin purses. He then jumped from the roof, landing once more on the surface of the water.

Erlok was crouched next to the last quilboar examining the arrow that had felled the pig. It seemed normal enough, but the shooter was nowhere to be seen. The troll looked up as Naruto and Grug approached. A few more pouches of currency in the orc's hand.

Naruto tossed the shortbow and arrows he was carrying to the troll who inspected them closely. The hunter sighed at the low quality but equipped them nonetheless. Beggars could not be choosers after all.

"Didja see da shoota?" Erlok asked, gesturing to the dead quilboar. Grug shook his head with a frown.

"I saw a flash of purple fabric before it disappeared. We're being shadowed." Naruto said this while looking around cautiously, as if expecting another attack. Although he didn't sense anyone nearby.

Erlok seemed troubled by that. He stood and began making his way to Southfury River once more. As he passed Grug he wrinkled his nose.

"We need ta leave, da smell from de bodies be attracting predators soon. Bathe ya self Grug."

The orc in question looked down at his bloodied form with a huff, "It's not even that bad."

He nonetheless complied with the order, plunging himself into the swamp.

The battle was over in less than two minutes. After the bodies were looted the trio now had a large sum of coin. Thirty copper pieces to be exact.

The sun was still high in the sky when the party swam, or in Naruto's case walked, across Southfury River. Doing their best to avoid the local crocolisks.

Naruto sat down with all the gear his companions made him carry while they swam to him from the opposite shore. He looked around curiously at the landscape. Instead of more desert he was met with grasslands. An improvement for sure, the blonde thought.

After his guides had made it ashore the trio sat out to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall. While Durotar had its fair share of beasts, the Barrens was home to many nocturnal predators. Roaming packs of lions and raptors. Centaur raiding parties and MORE quilboar.

Naruto respected the people that made their homes in such a dangerous environment. It kept them strong, made them formidable warriors. Down to the simplest farmer.

According to Erlok they would reach the port town of Ratchet by midday tomorrow. So the group found a flat area where the grass wasn't very tall and began setting up their camp.

It was pitch black on the plains. The moon did little to illuminate the darkness, the only reliable light source being the fire they had built.

Naruto kept looking out into the darkness, willing his eyes to find any movement, any sign of hostile life. Any sign of a purple cloak. He was snapped out of his glaring when Erlok began to speak.

"Ya handled ya self well today, Naruto. Betta den myself." The troll laughed while rubbing the back of his head.

"I'm sure if you had your bow there wouldn't have been a fight." Naruto commented with a small smile. Trying to keep the subject off himself.

The troll sobered at that. His eyes got a wistful look as he looked to the ground, "Ya shoulda seen me on Nazda. She and I were unstoppable."

"Your mount?" Naruto asked softly. Noticing the mood change.

"My Raptor. She was in da Orgrimmar stables when I was captured. Probably dead by now." Erlok raised a hand to his face, covering his eyes from view.

"I raised her since she was an egg. She was wid me her whole life. Until da day I betrayed da Horde."

When the troll removed his hand from his face his eyes were noticeably redder. He rubbed any stray tears away before looking at his hands, "Ya know, it be funny. I thought I had mourned, but I don think dat wound will ever heal."

Grug turned to face Erlok. His usually stoic features softened as he spoke, "I never thanked you properly for saving my life. Even at the cost of one so dear to you. If she has passed, I'm sure she is with Gonk, hunting with her kin."

At the mention of the Raptor Loa, Erlok smiled, "Ya be full of surprises Grug, I don think dey teach da loa's names when ya become Kor'Kron."

The orc huffed while poking at the fire, "A warrior who learns, is a warrior who lives."

Naruto was about to speak when he sensed someone walking towards their camp. He could sense a living being at twice the distance usually. It could only be their tail. Without speaking, Naruto unsheathed his tanto and faced the way the intruder was coming from. "Something is approaching!"

His companions also readied themselves, with Grug shouting a challenge into the dark, "Come any closer and you die."

A laugh was the only reply they received.