Koslova is going to be changed into Kozlova, thanks to Tyler555 who talked about pronunciation. A minor change but hopefully no big change.

1516

Land of Water

Two months had gone by since the events at Haran Harbor had taken place, with now the violence having reached the previous high levels of intensity. It was now open and clear from what had occurred. War was declared, and the first boots on the ground were the ones who needed to set up first operations - in the northern occupied area of the Land of Water.

And also present there was the Foreign Legion. As the base for its short existence was a large complex military base with dozens of ships of both the Navy and international forces close at the shores. With enough room at this base for tens of thousands of people.

In that base, and more specifically in one of the officer tents, Naruto laid in his tent reading a letter one of many sent after the attack on Haran Harbor. With the letter being mainly from those of the Fishman Kingdom.

Naruto, we've heard what happened at Haran Harbor. The newspapers were full of it. The pictures alone were too horrible for the parents to see that they hid it from the young children.

I cannot stress enough to say that on my journeys across the New World how everyone is taken aback by the fact that we're now at war. War with a whole civilization that is already embroiled in it.

We wish you all the best, and that you come back in good health. Keep us updated. We love you.

Signed.

Jimbei.

Having read that made Naruto smile for a brief moment, having himself already dressed up in his khaki pants and boots, with his x-shaped straps over his white shirt, only needing to get his khaki jacket on. With the bandages underneath his shirt still there as he just got recently dismissed from the field hospital.

Folding the letter up and putting it back into his belongings, Naruto kept a lot of letters of correspondence with him, putting that also away before he then puts his jacket on.

'Not even three months and you're already going back to frontline duty.'

'I got responsibilities, Kurama. I cannot run away from them.'

'Nobody is telling you to run away from your responsibilities, I'm just saying you should take it easy. You narrowly survived that debacle at Haran.'

'Unlike many others. Literally thousands of them.'

The death toll of the Haran Harbor Attack was in the thousands, with the closest estimate being in the near 5 000. With Marines, diverse military men, locals and members of the Foreign Legion having been among the fallen. With many of the dead being those who died on their ships.

That included many on both the Kozlova and the Scarlett, where many of those trapped had been unfortunate to go down with their ships into the bottom of the sea, a sailor's grave that was unbearable to watch. Though rescue efforts tried their best to free the men, many simply suffocated or drowned, if they survived the explosions.

The Foreign Legion itself lost around a thousand men that day. With many of those wounded to some sort of severity, with lesser casualties than first expected, these weren't easy numbers to fill back up - And that meant only one thing: replacements.

"Reporting for duty, sir."

Turning around, Naruto was met by the presence of one of those replacements. A young man who had just entered and gave him the standard salute. Wearing the Legion's uniform, he however didn't recognize him on the spot.

But he did notice the unfolded slouch hat.

"Yes, and you are-"

"Jack Foster." The young man introduced himself. "... I'm your new charge."

Hearing that, Naruto gave a curious look and asked. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen, sir."

'Bullshit, this kid looks like he's not even sixteen.'

Naruto took the mental note and then began to button up his jacket as he asked the clearly young volunteer. "So you're new here? How long exactly?"

"Actually… I just arrived here a few days ago." Foster admitted. "I got out of basic training done over a month ago in Alabasta and got sent here."

Naruto pressed. "You volunteered?"

"Y-Yes. Conscription in my hometown." Foster responded. "I'm from the Goa Kingdom, a small island up the East Blue."

"Alright, that explains it, but why have you come here in the first place?" Naruto asked, having finished clothing himself. "Normally new members have to wait until roundups."

"Like I stated, sir. I'm your new charge - meaning I am doing your communications as a runner." Foster told him. "I can do Morse code, radio, anything…"

"... But?"

"... I actually was assigned to Captain Frederick Bishop…but he told me to sod off and 'transferred' me to your battalion. So, that is perhaps my reason for being here."

This however got a brief chuckle out of Naruto as he expected this from Bishop, seeing that he most likely had seen through this kid's obviously lying about his age, and he wasn't the only one.

'Looks like the old bat has put you into the babysitting service. No choice whatsoever.'

"Well, looks like it's the Captain's orders, so welcome, Jack Foster." Naruto said, shaking the hand of the young man. "Welcome to the 9th Raiders Battalion."

"Thank you, sir. I'll try not to disappoint you."

Later

A half hour later, Naruto found himself in the briefing room at HQ, which in itself was just a good standing abandoned warehouse near the docks. With one large table seen taking most of the space in the room that was now occupied by only a few people inside. Including Major Whitehall and Captain Bishop alongside the company of a Navy officer.

It just happened to be this wasn't just any Marine officer, but a Vice Admiral who was told to come here on orders of Marineford-

*CRUNCH!*

The sound of a rice cracker being bitten in half by Garp was enough for him to enjoy his favorite food as he was making crumbs on the map that Whitehall tried to swipe away.

"I would really appreciate it if you didn't munch your food over the map, Garp." Whitehall begged with much restraint. "I still got to use it."

"Ah, don't be such a hard ass, it is only crumbs." Garp argued.

"Just wait, will you Garp?" Bishop said. "We're about to start."

It was then that Naruto was seen entering the room, and it didn't take long for him to be greeted.

"Brat!" Garp shouted as he approached Naruto with a grin. "Good to see you in good health. I heard what happened to you."

"Garp." Naruto casually approaches the old man and shakes his hand. "Good to see you, wish it was in better circumstances, to be fair."

"Yeah, I wish too." Garp said as he finished shaking the kid's hand. "Z sends his regards to you in good health."

"Let's focus on what's important, shall we?" Major Whitehall interrupted. "We got important topics to discuss."

"Like what?"

"Your first mission, kid, 9th Battalion is moving up - We're just given our first mission from Command."

"... Brief me, I'm listening." In a split moment Naruto's tone changed as he was now serious. "What's our objective?"

"Securing the countryside of the Land of Water, that's our objective." Major Whitehall stated as he pointed out to the multiple islands of the Land of Water on the map. "With now most of our forces having left Haran Bay and the evacuations of the Expeditionary forces. We've got pretty much little to no military presence on the mainland. It is therefore agreed upon by Command to start amassing our forces for an invasion, but here comes the problem…"

"Problem?" Naruto questioned.

"The sea lanes just west of the Land of Water are needed for logistics for the invasion plans, but due to the civil war in the country were left not patrolled by the authorities for years now." Garp voiced the obstacles that were there. "Reports from our scouting units have indicated that the area is filled with pirates and bandits, alongside saboteur groups and rogue Shinobi."

"So we're tasked to mop up the place of hostilities so we can set up logistic networks," Naruto stated, then nodded. "Alright, we can do that. Anything else?"

"This."

Three images were shoved under Naruto's nose for him to peruse.

Grabbing them, he saw that all were taken from above, and at different angles, showing three large, concrete buildings constructed atop a series of mountaintops. A set of bridges connected them.

"The scouting unit of the 7th Aviation had spotted those buildings two days before." Whitehall informed him as he explained. "Pictures are from yesterday. Forward recon units have found out from the few villagers who still live there that, is the Nadeshiko Village, if I am correct."

"Nadeshiko Village…" Naruto narrowed his eyes inspecting the pictures. "That matrilineal village?"

"Matrilineal?" Garp asked, quite confused but thinking. "Where have I heard that word before…"

"I believe the simple term is that this village is like Amazon Lily." Bishop said with a smirk. "That means that this is a female-dominated Kunoichi village that thrives through their female members going out of their village and having children with strong men."

The humor of it didn't escape Garp or Bishop's lips as they laughed for a moment thinking about that. But this did little to make Whitehall laugh.

"Laugh all you want, you two. But that village has the perfect spot for artillery and to oversee the whole area." Whitehall turned to Naruto. "Your job is to first take that settlement and secure it. Intel also says a large concentration of bandits were spotted in the area, but their whereabouts are currently unknown."

Naruto looked then upwards with questions. "Is the site abandoned?"

"That I cannot tell. Nobody has entered that area supposedly for months, nor local traders have reached it due to bandit ambushes." Whitehall replied. "I do, however, recommend caution."

"Noted," Naruto said as he was now briefed on the matter. "I'll get my men ready in a half hour."

"Good luck, son."

A few hours later

In the large countryside forests that were miles long and wide, laid a dirt road that was used to travel through.

*VROOM!*

Now it was being used as the main road for the Foreign Legion's Raiders Battalion, with an uncountable amount of rubber tires that were driving over the dry earth trail. Dozens of vehicles were seen lining up in a convoy traveling down the path. Transport vehicles that were carrying men, ammunition, and even artillery pieces were seen driving alongside sidecar motorcycles escorting them.

Among those trucks were the newly added M3 half-tracks, a personnel carrier that was mounted with a 50. Cal and had enough armor to withstand small arms fire, with some trucks even equipped with 75 mm cannon guns, enough to blow away anything in its path.

And on one of those half-track trucks were the members of Vic's squad. All of whom were just sitting in the back with nothing but time on their hands, and an annoying Bloomfield to start a conversation.

"Man, I'm starving! I haven't eaten anything since we left the base." Bloomfield began, then mentioning to Kelly sitting across him with Gin. "Hey, you know my dad runs a deli back home, makes the best pastrami sandwiches you'll ever eat!"

Vic responded. "Brooklyn, you ain't quite right!"

Chucking, Bloomfield however tugged his shoulder against Vic and joked. "Kind of like your sister, huh? Ya friggin' hayseed…"

This however didn't go well as Vic was offended, trying to grab Bloomfield-

"Why I oughta- !"

"Can it, you two. Stay on the ball." Hawkins stopped them, restraining Vic with his Thompson in one hand. "This ain't boot camp."

The two men calmed down on the opposite side of them, siting Kelly and Gin.

"Hey, Sarge?" Kelly began to ask. "I thought you said this was just some easy mopping up mission."

"Yeah, storming the beach was fun and all, but I gotta get back." Bloomfield began again. "I got tickets to the baseball game,I got box seats!"

"Ah, shut the hell up, Bloomfield-"

"I said, can it!" Hawkins warned again, not in the mood of playing peacemaker as he then turned to answer Kelly's question. "Resistance or not, we got a village to secure, Private."

"Actually, it's multiple mountain tops."

The four men sitting there turned to Gin speaking up, having been awfully quiet, he then repeated himself.

"Word is there are three mountain tops with settlements on them that we need to secure." Gin told them what he knew. "We don't know if it is abandoned or not, but there has been fighting in the area."

"Oh, now you tell us." Bloomfield said a bit frustrated at the lack of information that they've been given. "So we might spend hours of boredom just to secure some stupid ruins?"

"Not ruins, private. Settlements that have high ground. And Command says those settlements need to be secured." Hawkins backed up the intel.

"Tell you what, fellas." Vic said, leaning forwards. "I don't care either way, so long I got to shoot something."

The truck went over a bump that was felt, causing Kelly to make a mistake by loosening the grip of his rifle. With the muzzle slightly aimed at Vic's chin.

"And for Christ's sake, Kelly. Watch where you point that rifle." Hawkins told him off, with Vic reaching down to set it upright again in Kelly's hands. "Try and remember that! It'll keep you from blowing the head off the guy next to you."

Kelly nodded. "Okay, Sarge."

…

In the front was an M30 Jeep where Naruto was in, who himself was on the steering wheel with Bishop sitting next to him while in the back seat sat the new Frederick Bishop.

The jeep kept driving over multiple holes and pools of mud that were getting the tires dirty and wasting gasoline.

But the silence was broken by the newcomer Foster who tried to speak. "Uhm, Frederick Bishop-"

"It's Captain, kid." Bishop stated with authority that he felt like it was needed. Not even facing him as he spoke. "Remember that, while you speak to me, you either begin with Captain or sir."

"Oh… Alright." Foster said, turning silent as he went back to tuning the portable radio set he was tasked with.

"Listen, kid. You've somehow managed to lie your way here for a reason I do not want to know, so let me say this to you." Bishop warned him clearly. "You follow my orders or the Lieutenant's. You do not lose that radio, and as sure as fuck don't try and die doing something stupid - you got that?"

"Y-Yes sir!"

Naruto then added in, speaking more friendly. "Now keep yourself busy on the radio, and keep your head down."

The drive down the dirt road continued until a black figure jumped out of the bushes onto the road in front of them.

"LOOK OUT!"

Naruto stepped hard on the pedal, forcing the jeep to stop and causing the convoy behind them too slow to a halt.

Naruto reached for his sidearm and cussed out the person as he stepped out of the jeep. "You stupid son of a bitch! Can't you see-"

The person turned around with red sandal feet and faced Naruto, revealing long, spiky, white hair and red eyeliners that ran down an old, sagely face.

"Naruto?"

"... Pervy Sage?" Naruto recognized the old man. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jiraiya, who stood there, couldn't help but smile until four figures jumped out of the grass and surrounded the Sannin with their kunai and swords leveled upon the sole man.

"Don't you dare move, Jiraiya of the Sannin." One woman spoke who stood out. This person holding a katana was a tall and imposing figure with a slender physique with a very angular face framed by her short brown hair along with a dark shade of red lipstick. She wears a short, backless, red, full-body suit over mesh armor, along with a pair of arm-length gloves and a light orange sash, a long blue-green apron skirt which is open in the front. She also wears bandages on her wrists, covering all of her right left as well as her left thigh and leg.

"Tokiwa, please. Let me explain it to you." Jiraiya tried to engage her with a smile. "You see, I was-"

"Trespassing on Nadeshiko territory, which is punishable by death." The woman in red named Tokiwa stated, clearly with her blade pointed to the man's chin. "Your time is up, you didn't hold your end of the deal to the village leader."

Jiriya looked nervous and tried to explain. "Well hold on now. You see, my previous apprentice-"

"-Is already married, without us being notified about it." Tokiwa cut off with a neutral but dissatisfied tone of this. "When we arrived at your village and found out about the marriage, it was then decided to end your life."

The blade inched closer to Jiraiya's neck, causing him to respond.

"Well hold. He was not the apprentice I was talking about-"

*CLICK!*

The clicking sound got the brown haired Tokiwa to remind her surroundings, with the sound eerily close, she slowly turned her head to the side to see the barrel of a revolver pointed right at her head.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, lady." Naruto spoke, holding his sidearm against her, talking to her in a calm manner. "I know the perverted man here, but I cannot simply allow you to take him out."

Tokiwa narrowed her eyes on the blond. "And who might you be?"

"Look, Lady Tokiwa…look…"

Turning her head around fully, the Nadeshiko warrior was met with a whole group of men pointing their rifles. Some from their motorcycles, others on foot and some even from the trucks they were standing on. Seen aiming at the women.

She took a closer look at the blond young man who was the first to draw at her, and gave the Nadeshiko Kunoichi a warning.

"Right behind me stands a convoy of over a thousand men, armed to the teeth. Fully loaded and ready." Naruto told her without a sense of hesitation. "So I am willing to play peacemaker and offer you a chance to talk this out."

Tokiwa replied. "And if I refuse?"

"He's carrying a peacemaker, ma'am." Bishop said, sitting there with no worry. "Either he or his piece will do it."

….

"Stand down."

The Nadeshiko Kunoichi did so and lowered their blade's, with Tokiwa being the last one to lower hers.

"Now, I chosen to handle this peacefully, but I'd like first to know…." The brunette started with a question. "What is your name?"

"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced himself properly to the woman. "First Class Lieutenant of the 9th Raiders Battalion of the Alabasta Foreign Legion."

Hearing that name got Tokiwa to slowly widen her eyes with recognition, before her default expression returned but with a more serious undertone. She looked back at the still surrounded Jiraiya.

"I see you kept your end of the deal."

When he heard that, Naruto's companion made a comment that would stick with him forever.

'Something tells me that the idiot godfather of yours did something stupid that is linked to you.'

Meanwhile

Deep in the forest was a large camp that was mainly filled with bandits, mercenaries and two-bit criminals who were roaming the countryside. Where hundreds of men were seen crowding up around a few transport carriages had arrived.

"Everyone! With courtesy from Gatō - here are your new toys!"

A box was literally thrown out of the carriage and it cracked open, with bolt action rifles seen coming out and being grabbed out fast. With cheers being heard from these bandits who were checking them out.

"New guns!"

"Can't wait to use these!"

"Lets goo!"

"Just so you all know, attack the Nadeshiko Village, alright?" The person who just delivered these weapons told the bandit camp. "Gatō wants you all to try and cause as much chaos in these parts, far away from his business. And in exchange for that - money and booze!"

"And some booty!" One of the bandits grinned. "I heard those Nadeshiko women are tough girls!"

The roar of approval just went louder as then these men went on to clean their camp and prepare for another day of traveling towards the settlement. Ready for what they thought was an easy job.

However, they were being observed from a long distance by a pair of Marines, both cladded in camouflage with one using binoculars to scope what the bandits were doing while the other was taking notes.

And without a word spoken the two Marines then distanced themselves from their spot and disappeared into the forest.

Nadeshiko Village

At the same time, movement was seen up the road towards the main entrance towards the main settlement of Nadeshiko. With only now one M30 jeep seen allowed to drive up through the guarded concrete route.

And it was heavily guarded, with mainly the Kunoichi of this village and a few male militia volunteers seen looking with caution but also slightly curious how these men in strange uniforms and wagons were driving through the village, with Lady Tokiwa in the back seat alongside the radio charge Foster, with Naruto driving and Bishop next to him.

The ride upwards to the village and its many checkpoints was of silence, apart from the explanation to the guards, there were barely any words spoken between the two parties, until that was broken.

"So you know, this is standard procedure on why we only allow two of these wagons through, alright?" Tokiwa mentioned. "Not every man can simply enter our village."

"Not even if they're friendly? Let alone in the middle of war?" Bishop asked, wanting to know more. "You know I am not exactly new to Amazonian-like societies, I've seen some before. Yet this is kinda new to me."

"Unless you live in the Land of Water…"

Bishop and Tokiwa turned to Naruto who answered that, seeing he wasn't done yet.

"This land is still in a state of civil war, uprisings and unable to control the countryside." Naruto informed both his captain and Kunoichi while shifting gear. "So I would understand why your society does not open up to strangers."

"... That is a perfect assessment of our current situation." Tokiwa confirmed it with a nod before explaining. "But don't worry, once everything is discussed, we might let your men inside the village, but for now they will remain at the front entrance alongside some of my best warriors."

"I hope so. I need my men alive. No need for their throats to be cut."

"And your Godfather?"

"... Undecided."

Once that small conversation was over, the one jeep parked right in front of the main fortified entrance had over a few dozen Kunoichi guarding it, some of whom were glaring at the presence of these men.

"Allow me." Tokiwa said as she stepped out. "I need to inform my leader of your presence."

"Sure, take your time."

The brunette kunoichi took no sparing moments to then approach some of her fighters and explain a lot to them, with some of the women turning from glares, to their confusion, to outright shock as some even glanced at Naruto himself.

Bishop leaned forwards to speak. "Whatever they are speaking about, they seemingly pay attention to you, kid."

Looking at his captain, he then responded. "I don't have any connection to these people."

"MOVE IT!"

The shout turned the men inside the jeep to turn around to see Jiraiya being escorted by a group of angry Nadeshiko guards inside the main building, with the white haired man trying to even look at Naruto before being warned to look forwards again.

Naruto pointed out to him with slight disgust but mostly irritation. "The only connection I do have to this place is thanks to that pervert."

"And he's your Godfather?..." Foster said, looking visibly confused as he stated. "No offense, Lieutenant, but perhaps you were lucky to not have been taken under his wing."

"Oh, that I am glad about." Naruto said. Having no reserved feelings about it. "That man might be strong, but he's got the manners and privacy of a drunken pervert who's unable to pay his tab."

Bishop could only laugh at that assertion as it was literally true. But the laughter ended when then Tokiwa walked up towards the jeep.

"You're allowed to have an audience with the village leader. All three of you." Tokiwa extended her arm out to the entrance. "Your vehicle will be looked after. Please follow me."

Turning the engine off, Naruto puts the keys into his pocket and then readies his revolver in his holster. Him not being the only one as Bishop also readied his piece. With only the radio man Foster seen carrying his SMLE MKIII rifle with him.

"Let's make a good impression, shall we?"

After a considerable long walk, the three Foreign Legion members were now in a large throne room that had anything except for a throne seat. Instead, it had a long desk where it was reserved for three people to sit at, with it only being occupied by two.

The first person was a woman who looked like she was in her late 50's, with green eyes and brown, light brown chin-length hair with a tint of gray to show her age, that covered her ears and framed her face. she was a fairly tall woman of a curvaceous build. She wore a red pink form-fitting outfit with only a long-sleeve on her left side and an orange sash.

And sitting next to her was a young lady who was close to Naruto's age and of average height with fair skin, waist length black hair tied in a ponytail with chin length bangs, green eyes, and she has a ninja headband across her forehead and a form fitting gray colored kunoichi style outfit with a right shoulder guard, gray gloves, and it is open somewhat in the chest to reveal some of very voluptuous cleavage.

Tokiwa kneeled to the two women. "Lady Tsuyoi, Lady Shizuka. Here are the men of the Foreign Legion - we encountered them in our territory while we were hunting down the intruder Jiraiya of the Sannin."

The elderly woman Tsuyoi looked over to the corner of the room, where Jiraiya was sitting on a bench, accompanied by two stone-cold Nadeshiko guards.

"That I am aware of, Lady Tokiwa, to which I applaud your success in bringing this culprit back to our village." The village leader laid her focus on the three newcomers. "However my question is who these three gentlemen are and what business they have doing in our village?"

"Allow me to introduce myself, ma'am." Bishop began as he started. "Name's Captain Frederick Bishop, and we're on a mission to secure the area from bandit activity that is reported in the area." Bishop gestured then to the other two soldiers. "These two men behind me are Private Jack Foster, and my second-in-command, Lieutenant First Class Naruto Uzumaki."

The mention of the second name got the heads of the women inside the room to turn to one another, causing a bit of confusion.

Naruto even briefly turned his head around to Jiraiya, who only was able to give him a shitty grin with a hand wave, doing not much to help the situation for the blond.

'I tell you, that shitty perv has caused you problems before you even knew it.'

"Young man."

Naruto glared at him before turning that back to the front, and facing the Nadeshiko village leader.

"So your name is Naruto Uzumaki, correct?" The leader Tsuyoi asked, eyeing the blond. "A pupil of Jiraiya of the Sannin and from the Hidden Leaf Village?"

Naruto however, did not look satisfied with that description, and did not hesitate to correct. "No, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, from the Fishmen Kingdom. I am not a citizen of the Hidden Leaf, ma'am."

The tone however stunned the village leader, alongside Tokiwa who was the first one to ask in curiosity.

"Beg me pardon Lieutenant, but according to Jiraiya you are from the Hidden Leaf."

"I was born in the Hidden Leaf, but have long left it years ago." Naruto informed them of this additional information. "As of my connection to pervert Jiraiya. Yes, he is my godfather, but I have only taken a few months of training under him. So I cannot say I am his pupil."

"That is good enough for me."

The voice came from the silence, the green emerald eyed young woman named Shizuka stood up and with her stare at Naruto.

"Excuse me, but what is this?" Naruto asked for clear confirmation as he stared at the young lady. "Good enough for what?"

"For the promise Jiraiya has made - for both our pupils to fight." Lady Tsuyio began to explain to him. "You see, your master years ago, had infiltrated this village, and fought against me as it would result in an act of marriage if he were to win against me in a fight, and he would stay in the village to consummate the marriage with a child."

This made a few eyebrows raise up, especially Bishop who could see that Foster was looking more uncomfortable with what he was witnessing.

Naruto however, did not need to think too long on where this was going, and basically spilled it out.

"You know that we're in the middle of a war, right?" Naruto asked the women at the table, trying to make sense of the situation. "It is not the right time for some futile old tradition in the middle of a conflict zone."

Shizuka shot back. "Futile old tradition? This has been our village's tradition since its inception!"

"Well pardon me, but I am not going to fulfill the obligations of my Godfather." Naruto returned the favor. "I am not interested in this, let alone will I participate in this."

"You have to. You got no choice." Lady Tokiwa spoke, trying to explain. "A promise has been made-"

"Without my consent, nor will I consent to this madness!" Naruto roared his opposition. "I have my responsibilities to behold now, and I am not going to push them aside for some backward tradition!"

*STOMP!*

With her foot now on the desk, Shizuka had pulled out multiple Kunai blades out and was holding them into a hand. Ready to get into combat.

"You will fight!"

…

"I will not waste my time on this nonsense."

Instead of standing into a fighting position, Naruto just turned around and started to walk away to the front door, going through the same way he entered, leaving everyone inside the room of the Nadeshiko village baffled.

"Stop there!"

"How dare you!"

A few of the kunoichi were about to do something until-

"HOLD IT!"

They stopped at the word of the village leader, Tsuyoi, giving a firm order.

"You will not harm him or anyone else of his men." The leader turned then to Bishop. "Captain, I'd like to let you know your men are allowed to enter the premises, but on several conditions of course. If it's true what you said, we need to strengthen up our defenses."

Bishop nodded in agreement. "I understand." He turned towards Foster. "Contact the rest of the battalion."

"Lady Tokiwa, you also will bring the confirmation." Lady Tsuyoi told her. "Do it now."

"Yes, my lady." Tokiwa nodded before she disappeared again, leaving then the village leader to speak then captain-

*SLASH!"

The desk found itself being cut in half with the perpetrator, Shizuka, seen walking off with her back turned against everyone, as she left with a clear hint of disappointment and frustration.

Few hours later

"Ready it!"

"Roger!"

In the middle of the main square of Nadeshiko Village, multiple artillery cannons were being prepared with the shells being set up next to the cannons. With the multiple long range 155 mm GPF cannons being almost ready for usage.

Slowly the whole village was filled with the presence of the Foreign Legion as the village and its surroundings were being essentially fortified for an armed assault, with multiple outposts already set up with MG nests and forward positions. Most of the men who weren't helping fortify, they were then at least helping load out the ammo boxes.

And looking from above it all on a balcony was Naruto, seen sitting against the open window within his own private quarters he was provided with. It was not a big room but it was enough for the commissioned officer who was used to sleeping in worst conditions.

Seen smoking his pipe, Naruto was glad to see his men taking care of business. Watching as he blew out smoke from his mouth.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

"Come in."

With the door opening, the person seen coming in were the least welcome now, as it was Jiraiya who was seen walking in.

"Naruto…"

Smoke was seen blown out of Naruto's mouth as he puts the pipe out and puts it away into hid pocket.

"Pervy Sage…"

Normally this irritated the Sannin, but given the situation he let it slide. As he walked down to the middle of the room. Jiraiya began to then talk. "Kid, we got to talk. About all of this."

"Funny, I wanted to do the same thing." Naruto said as he turned around and faced him. "Last time, I did not recollect a promise for some political marriage."

"It was not something I planned for you in particular." Jiraiya tried to explain it. "The village leader Tsuyoi challenged me and I-"

"Somehow found it appropriate if it shoving this under someone's else his feet, and I happen to be that person." Naruto shot back, holding but clearly showing his anger. "I swear, you and your damn habits. You don't know how much I wish to shot you now."

Jiraiya questioned. "Then why won't you?"

…

Naruto pulled out of his chest pocket a small piece of folded paper he then placed on the table, shoving it then to Jiraiya's end of it.

"Because, despite your pervert behavior - you still are irreplaceable as a spymaster." Naruto said as he watched the old man take the paper. "I need you to find me anything about certain men, mainly one Gatō from the Land of Waves."

"Gatō you say? Like of Gatō Transport?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow on that name as he read the paper with a photo inside of it. "He's a rich businessman, what do you need information about him?"

"Because I know that you know one thing, he's not a 'legitimate businessman' like he wants to put himself forwards." Naruto said to him. "Like the fact he's been long suspected of using all the trading routes that he controls directly to smuggle anything from drugs to stolen goods, with now the latest intel being unsettling to my commanding officers."

Jiraiya asked. "And that latest intel is?"

"Simple: he's now into gunrunning."

Hearing that startled Jiraiya. "Excuse me?"

"You didn't know? Little bastard is selling guns now from what we could put together." Naruto stated that a simple as he could. "He's bee arming different factions in the conflict with any kind of weapons he can get a hold off - we're talking pistols, rifles, machine guns even. I even heard he tried to get motor vehicles, but he's also selling resources like oil, gas and armor."

This caused a frown to turn into a growl from Jiraiya as he looked down to the picture of the small man who's already filthy rich - now he was war profiteering from this mess also?

"So who's he selling to now?" The Sannin asked. "Anyone in particular?"

"Bandits for now. Plus rogue shinobi, pirates, local militias." Naruto named up a few. "Anybody with enough money in their pocket. Point is, he needs to be stopped - better yet, we need to know his pattern. Where he lives, where he goes, who he goes with, anything we can find out about him."

"Lieutenant Uzumaki."

Turning towards the door, the two men were met with the presence of Lady Tokiwa herself standing there with her hands behind her back.

"Lady Tsuyio has asked for your presence."

…

Walking through the hallway. Lady Tokiwa was escorting Naruto towards the private quarters of the village leader. With a few of the Kunoichi they were passing by, giving him a few looks, often with a glare to the end.

'They really do not like you.'

'They could try.'

'I don't think so, or else you will be kicking their assess and then you are stuck with them.'

'Good point.'

"Lieutenant Uzumaki." Tokiwa spoke, still leading. "If I may address you on something important."

Naruto just kept himself quiet as he followed the older Kunoichi.

"It hasn't been easy for our village, with this war having put pressure on all of us. Either physically or mentally."

It happened that the two were walking past a open door where multiple beds with injured Nadeshiko Kunoichi were seen laying on. With many of them covered in bandages.

"We've been cut off from most of the world. With food, water and medicine being scarce and every shipment that we manage to get through is a relief to our village. With those who willing to help us often face great risk to themselves."

"That I can understand." Naruto agreed before then asking. "But why are you bringing this up?"

"Among the those who helped was Sagiri, a local tradesman who was well associated with Lady Shizuka."

That alone in silence, made the Lieutenant figure out something…

…

It then stopped Naruto in his boots, forcing then Tokiwa to also stop as they reached the door as they opened it.

Nadeshiko outskirts

"Dig, boys!"

With shovels seen grabbing the earth, the first line of defense was being prepared by the Damned Raiders as they were preparing their holdouts that they'd soon be in. With dozens of men seen digging at the same time while others were standing watch.

"Jesus Christ!" One very frustrated Guzzo began, having been struggling to dig out his own dugout by himself. "What's this earth made out of? Cement?"

"No, just hard rock," Huxley said passing by his dugout with a new shoved and an bag of ammunition, with his shotgun slung over his shoulder. "You started digging a spot that we spotted a hour ago."

"what?" Guzzo asked.

Huxley dropped his ordinance right to his dugout with Dixon, who already had placed some sandbags for the Vickers MG that was set up with already ammo loaded in.

"... Are you saying I've been digging for nothing?" Guzzo said while pointing out. "While you guys found softer ground literally a few inches away from me?"

"You already started, Guzzo." His sarge, McCullin walked by as he took a dislike to the radio operator. "So unless you want any more trouble, I say keep on digging."

"Fuck me…" Guzzo gave up and mumbled as he continued on to dig.

"Just keep on, Guzzo." Dixon said to him, irritated. "Night's coming soon, so don't waste your time."

A few meters away, also seen digging was Gin as he and his team were nearly done with setting up defenses for the M3 truck with the 50. Cal being handled by the headband-wearing Legionnaire.

"So what do you think what's going on?" Bloomfield asked while digging. "With the lieutenant."

Kelly grunted while be swung some earth away. "What do you mean?"

"You know, with these women?" Bloomfield specified. "I heard that old man got him into something he didn't like."

"That's the lieutenant's business, not ours. Brooklyn." Kelly said moving more earth around. "Now keep going."

"Jeez, Kelly. Such a conversationalist." While that was happening, Vic and Hawkins were seen approaching their squad.

"You ladies making progress?" Hawkins asked his men with his Thompson gun leaning over his shoulder. "Once you are done, gear up. It's our turn to do patrol."

Bloomfield turned around. "Why us? Always us."

"Just shut it, Brooklyn." Vic cussed him off. "The sooner we do this, the sooner we're done."

….

*BANG!*

The sound of a gunshot wound going off was enough to alert the men in their dugouts.

"Was that a gunshot?"

….

*BANG!*

More gunfire went off as then it was now the quo for some of the men to go into groups and go into the woods.

Inside Nadeshiko

Inside, an awkward pregnant silence had ensued in the throne room.

Standing there with Captain Bishop, Naruto was just being briefed by Lady Tsuyio of the situation. Within the reports having just being given by both the Nadeshiko's spies and radio intel from HQ by Jack Foster who was standing in the corner in formation.

"We've got good information to believe that three camps of bandits have been spotted just a few dozen clicks off this position." Bishop said pointing on the map with his finger. "Multiple convoys have been spotted here, here and here. With more men seen joining these columns towards the main roads that lead straight to the village."

Lady Tsuyoi asked then. "How many are we specifically talking about?"

"We are possible speaking of two to three thousand." Naruto stated, not paying attention to some of the shocked faces as he spoke. "A massive amount of these bandits have assembled around different parts of the countryside, with additional reinforcements having come from the Land of Waves with heavy weaponry."

Standing on the side, Shizuka stood as she observed the calm officer who was of her age, yet was making a firm impression on her teacher and mother.

Tokiwa nodded. "So what do you suggest?"

"Defensive positions, letting our artillery batter them up until reinforcements from the north arrive." Naruto explained. "Marines are clearing the path alongside the streams and pushing the remaining pockets of resistance. So we should camp out for a day or two."

"Two days, you say?" Lady Tsuyoi repeated in question. "And what if the bandits decided to attack?"

"We'll be responding then." Naruto assured. "My men have no trouble responding with deadly force."

…

Standing then up, Lady Tsuyio replied then. "Then I allow you and your Foreign Legion to grant another few days to stay. But do know your men are bound to the same laws as anyone else."

"That we can assure you, ma'am." Bishop replied.

"Uhm, sir?"

Bishop turned towards the radio operator. "What is it, private?"

"Commotion at the gate. Multiple jeeps are driving through." Foster said. "Multiple wounded are being brought in."

Outside

Seen rushing through the main building's exit, the leaders were seen arriving just as when a pair of jeeps were entering the compound with multiple stretchers with people laying on it.

"Status report."

Vic was the one seen exiting the jeep and began. "We heard gunfire in the woods and we checked it out." He helped the medic pick up one of the stretchers. "Found out it were a couple of Marines we came across."

The first marine was a man who's already being brought away with blood already dripping through his camouflage coat. With his chances of survival being minimal with the wounds he had gained…

"Intelligence agents, both of them are. I believe they both were on a scouting mission until they crossed paths with a group of bandits." Vic said as he was holding one side of another stretcher holding the other. "She here, needs a doctor quickly."

Naruto took a look at the female Marine, still holding a pistol in her hand, it looked like it was out of ammo, she must've taken a few ones out.

"What's your name?"

"E-Eliza…"

"Right." Naruto nodded and turned to his men. "Bring her to the infirmary, and keep me updated."

"As for the defense lines, I want everyone to be alert." Bishop said as he gave out further orders. "Denley, get back to your squad and spread the word."

"Right on."

Slowly the whole area started to organize itself around the orders of the two commanding officers, right in front of the Nadeshiko women who were watching with quiet interest into the matter. Especially the blond.

"Jiraiya' apprentice is showing to be quiet the charismatic young man." The village leader noted with an smile of interest.

Lady Tokiwa nodded in agreement, even when she had yet to see the Lieutenant's abilities, she can see the young man was not a slacker.

"Indeed, my Lady."

However, Shizuka was not impressed at all as she watched Naruto give orders to the kid Foster, all while other uniformed men were listening.

"...I'll see if he's worth living…"