Hello, a bit of sad news, but due to life I'll have to start posting on a bi-weekly schedule for a while. Hopefully not permanent but we'll see. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto or Warcraft.

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Erlok had wanted to retire. Somewhere remote, where he could live in peace. Just his raptor to keep him company. Why not, he asked himself. Fighting in three different wars was more than enough reason for anyone. He almost succeeded too. One last bundle of pelts to sell in Orgrimmar and he would be set for the rest of his life.

Then the raid on the troll slums happened. Kor'Kron destroyed homes, and beat civilians, all because some child had stolen a fruit for her family. When they found her Erlok had stood nearby, watching with bated breath with the rest of his people. He had thought they would issue a fine. Perhaps some public service. He should have known better.

The captain of the Kor'Kron had shouted some insane speech about the troll's lack of gratitude, claiming they needed to be taught a lesson. He had raised his axe to slay the girl when he was tackled to the ground by another Kor'Kron, Grug'Narr Azure'eye. The young orcs' blue eyes blazed with the fury of his ancestors as he pummeled his superior officer into the dirt.

It took a moment for the other orcs to register what was happening before they jumped to their leader's rescue. But by then it was too late. The Kor'Kron captain's helmet was a bent and bloody mess. One of his eyes was hanging out of its socket, his teeth, the ones he didn't swallow, were falling out from under the helmet's mask. Through the gurgling of his own blood the Kor'Kron could make out the order to kill their insubordinate comrade.

Before the blow was struck Erlok had plowed into the would-be executioner knocking him to the ground. He was acting on pure instinct and rage. His heart was beating in his chest like a Gurubashi war drum. Surrounded Erlok and Grug fought back to back against overwhelming odds.

Eventually they were worn down and captured. They were brought before Warlord Azure'eye. Grug's father. Although Erlok didn't know this at the time.

The Warlord was an imposing figure. In the tradition of the Bleeding Hollow clan he had forgo the use of armor. His green skin was a tapestry of battle scars. The only weapon he carried was a club, fashioned from the jaw of some large carnivorous creature. It's white bone stained brown with dried blood. His left eye had been carved out of his skull. Leaving a black hole in its place.

The Warlord didn't even look in Grug's direction, his lone blue eye fixed solely on Erlok. "Your betrayal is a surprising one. After years of faithful service to the Horde you throw it all away. For some whelp you don't even know."

He leaned down to be at eye level with the troll. "Normally I would offer a trial by combat. Let the spirits decide your fate. But this traitorous act during a time of war deserves proper punishment."

He stood then and motioned for the guards to take away the prisoners. Still the Warlord refused to acknowledge Grug at all.

As Erlok was dragged away into the desert he could only hope that the little girl had gotten away safely, and that Nazda had been given a swift death. He was almost ready to accept his fate, when everything changed. A prayer to the Loa had delivered his savior. Naruto Uzumaki, a boy from another realm. They had begun to get along, the three of them. He would go so far as to say he was friends with the boy. At first Erlok believed him to be a fairly normal child, save for the combat training for one so young.

He was proven wrong several times, specifically in combat. This boy, no, warrior held his own against odds that would kill a normal child. He had this sense about him, he reeked of voodoo. But when his clones fell from the trees did Erlok truly believe that Naruto was blessed. Be it by Loa or any other higher power it mattered not. Now he doesn't think of retiring. His heart is filled with a new purpose, to follow this warrior to the very ends of Azeroth.

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Naruto found it quite exhausting, answering all the questions about his abilities. All the ones he wanted to answer anyways. The group had set out once more and since then they all had been bombarding him with questions. Naruto was particularly uncomfortable with the looks he had been receiving from Erlok. Pure adoration, almost reverence. He didn't deserve such looks, he never would. Did that upset him?

He had been thinking more and more lately about what his purpose in this world would be. Was it to be this Herald that the Fox spoke of? A hero, a leader, a monster? He didn't know what he wanted for himself. For the first time in a long time he was left without orders, unregimented. Without a dream. His only goal so far was to find whatever creature had put a black flame in his heart and kill it.

After that? He had no clue. A small chuckle from Grug brought his attention to his companions. Erlok had told him a joke, one he didn't hear. He smiled before doubt wiggled its way into his head. He didn't deserve friendship. The whole point of his self imposed exile was penance for his past crimes. He had to leave this party once this mission was completed. He would let the wind guide him to his destiny.

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Duskwood was a dreary place. Dead trees as far as the eye could see. With every mile they covered Beth's mood seemed to sour until she finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "I have a request."

The party halted their mounts and turned to look at the priest with confused expressions. They waited for her to continue.

"To the East there is a cemetery. It has been a point of pain for my order for years, as the chapel has not been blessed, or purified. The dead have risen from their graves and haunt the grounds. Never finding eternal peace. I humbly ask that we detour so that I may complete my priestly duties before we continue to Westfall."

Grug scowled as he looked eastward. "That's in the opposite direction! How far?!"

Beth had the good sense to seem bashful as she rubbed the back of her head. "About a half day's ride."

The orc snorted derisively, "Absolutely not."

"I don't see why not. She's doing so much for us the least we can do is help her with her own mission." Naruto stated matter of factly. This caused Grug to look at him with brows raised, he huffed before turning his wolf eastward. The orc may not agree, but by his blood oath he had to adhere to the blonde's words. Naruto felt a grateful squeeze from the woman behind him, reminding him how uncomfortable he was sharing a saddle.

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The Tranquil Gardens were anything but. Naruto was disgusted to see walking corpses shambling around the graveyard. He prayed internally that the forsaken were not as revolting. Dispatching them was child's play. The undead creatures were nothing to them. With Beth's light magic she was able to disintegrate them with ease. Her abilities being the anathema to the ones who raised the dead.

Erlok commented that killing the brain was the easiest way to dispatch the zombies. Anything less would be shrugged off by the dead. Grug had no issues with that, his axe was made to cleave heads from shoulders, and cleave it did. Naruto merely used his kunai to eliminate any threats to the party, deeming the creatures unworthy of his abilities.

It did not take long for the party to clear a path to the chapel, however what they heard inside stopped them in their tracks. A large undead was screeching and gibbering to itself in a mockery of the common tongue. Its body was far more decayed than the zombies outside, to the point its original race was indistinguishable. And it was much faster than its shambling brethren.

When it spotted them lingering in the doorway it lunged with agility that surprised them all, save for Erlok. His arrow glowed with purple energy as he loosed it from his bow. The undead's head was obliterated from its rotten shoulders in an explosion of magic and gore. Erlok shouldered his bow before walking back outside, merely throwing the name of the creature over his shoulder as he went. "Ghoul."

Beth turned to Grug with a sad smile on her face. "Thank you for this, if you would be so kind I would like to show Naruto the cleansing rights of my order in private."

Grug left with a shrug after Naruto gave him a nod of approval. Naruto turned and followed Beth to the center of the chapel. They kneeled together as Beth began praying silently, her hands clasped together. Naruto observed quietly, noticing a few tears falling from her closed eyes. The sight moved him, perhaps his suspicions of the woman were misplaced after all.

After a few moments Beth opened her eyes and turned to her companion. "It saddens me deeply that this world has been corrupted with such disgusting magic. Raising the innocent into monsters. One day Naruto the purest of magic will reign over this world and order will be restored. The world will be put right."

She weeped openly now but Naruto couldn't help but feel that she mourned the use of necromancy, not the victims raised into undeath. He shook the thought away, of course she mourned the dead and here he was questioning her tears.

She wiped her face with a cloth, apologizing all the while. "That's what I wish for Naruto, but what about you? What do YOU want?"

The boy was silent for a time, mulling the question over. "I don't know."

His answer was honest, yet it disappointed him greatly. The woman lowered her voice, leaning a tad closer to him. "Are you sure it's not to be accepted by those around you? For them to love you despite your burden?"

The last word caused him to freeze, and his eyes to widen. He felt his face pale, and the icy spike of fear entered his heart once more. She knew?

"You have nothing to fear from me Naruto. I know how you feel. Ostracized, hated, feared." Beth was next to his ear now, her voice hardly a whisper. "I accept you, Kyuubi and all."

She was suddenly up and walking towards the door before stopping and turning slightly to him. "I won't tell a soul, not everyone is as open minded as me after all."

As she left the chapel Naruto began to breathe heavily, a cold sweat on the back of his neck. Before he glared towards the door, his eyes flickering crimson and purple. An inhuman growl escaped his throat. He would have his answers before this quest was done. He swore it.