Hello friends, one and all. It has been quite some time, huh? Almost a decade. In the time since I've last taken up the noble art of storytelling, I've done quite a bit; grown not an insignificant amount of a person as well. I hope to use this personal growth as a means to pen something quite interesting.
As you might have noticed, this is listed as a Naruto x FATE crossover. To be specific, this takes place in the F/GO universe. I've recently gotten into it and have had so many interesting thoughts about things I could do with the large cast and expansive story. Chances are that I will be writing this as I play the game but I am not afraid of spoilers so if need be I might look things up on the wiki!
I sincerely hope this is to your liking.
DISCLAIMER: I own not a single thing that is written in this piece of fiction. Naruto and its associated trademarks are owned by Masashi Kishimoto while the Fate series is owned by Type-Moon. Fate/Grand Order is developed by Lasengle and published by Aniplex and Sega.
xxxx
It was strange. Of all the jobs I could have been accepted to, of course it was one that took place on such a Godforsaken place. We were being flown to a remote facility that we weren't quite allowed to know the location of. Or, I wasn't at least. Maybe my fellow new hires were still possessing their faculty for sight. To be frank, I didn't care - not too much. Not a lot bothered me these days. I'd long since left behind burdens such as 'care for my wellbeing.' I left behind more than I would have been willing to part with if this was the old me.
I felt the helicopter jostle as it touched down on what I could only assume to be a landing pad. Soon I was unblindfolded and urged to leave the aircraft. As I stepped off of the rotary bladed vehicle, two things immediately struck me. First: it was damn cold. Two: holy hell, where in the name of the sage did they take me to? I was like a country bumpkin who was just now entering the city. I'd know, I've had this experience at least once already. As my gaze canted to and fro, I took note of a shorter, red - almost orange - haired lass. She couldn't have been over the age of eighteen, not with how she was developed. To think they were allowed to hire minors. Reminds me of home.
The orange haired girl - and wasn't that just a blessing from the sage on her, orange hair? - seemed almost as lost as I was, so in an act of solidarity, I walked past her, and cast an easy going grin down at her. Yes, down. She was rather short just as I was rather tall. She looked to be about five foot, maybe five foot and an inch if I was being generous. So around one hundred and fifty four centimeters. Compared to my five foot eleven height - 180 cm, she was diminutive, pint sized, short, chibi and an adorable ankle biter.
"C'mon, I imagine they've got some sort of orientation we'll need to go through. I doubt they'd be happy if we just sat out here and froze to death." I spoke to her almost as if I were her friend. Maybe I would be. Waiting not a single beat, I turned my attention forwards and marched onward. It took a second at most for her to follow me. She didn't reply but I glimpsed a relieved smile on her face from the corner of my eye.
Yes, I do believe we just might become friends.
xxxx
We were inside of the facility, attempting to find our way to someone who could guide us. At first I had moved confidently and surely inspired the same in my height challenged compatriot but as I tried my best to lead us to someone who could point the right way, it became clear this building was designed to be intentionally confusing. To ward off attacks is what it seemed. Which was likely, considering what I had witnessed in this place since I found myself here.
Then came salvation. Oh, no, that was my tiny companion fainting. Strange. Still, I caught her before she landed on her face and broke her nose. I may be an ass at times but I'm not a jerk. Or something like that. Still, as I looked around for something to help her, I took note of the first - or was it second? - human being in this place I had come across. A pale woman with equally pale hair with a purplish tint. She seemed incredibly gloomy at first glance. As she approached us, I realized I might look like I was doing something unforgivable to the orangette. Still, I was not one to be cowed by possibilities and kept orange hair's body from hitting the ground.
"Oh..." Pale hair intoned. She sounded gloomy as well. I truly hope she's not someone I'm going to be partnered with. "Does she... need help?"
I was stuck trying to decide if dealing with such a drain on my psyche would be worth it when the hair on the back of my neck stood to attention. Something was nearby, something dangerous! I glanced about as I set short stuff down against the wall. "Careful, there's something here." I groused out to the pale haired girl.
"Something...?" She tilted her head before her gaze drifted down towards orange hair. "Do you mean Fou?"
Fou? I blinked, following her gaze down to my slumbering partner. A... creature of sorts was sat on her chest, poking her cheek. It took a tic to register it but this... thing was not what it appeared. I had been near creatures that were evil and this thing certainly gave off the same aura. Potent. Powerful. Predatory. I almost instinctively reacted with violence, my hand almost jerking to my side for a tool of the trade. But I had none so instead it was but a twitch.
"Fou fou! Fou fou fou!" Oh by whatever lives in the heavens, why was this evil being acting so cute? Was I glaring? I was glaring. Mechanically, with creaking audible, I turned my gaze to pale hair.
"Fou?"
She nodded and pointed at the devil. "Fou." She said softly.
As I stood there torn between doing battle with possibly the most dangerous thing I had encountered in this land, the monster's pokes seemed to rouse orangie. With a small gasp, her eyes opened and she was greeted by an evil spirit. Demon. Creature. Predator? I'd find a term for it in time.
"Fou fou - fou fou fou!" A shiver went down my spine at its evil tongue.
"Ahaha, who let their pet out?" She spoke! Fou hopped down off of her and she glanced up at me and pale hair. "Oh, you didn't leave me." When she made to stand, I offered a hand and hoisted her up with uncanny ease. She was incredibly light. Or maybe I still retained some of my strength...
"And who's this?" Tabby questioned lavender girl. I need to get their names out of them, I don't have enough things to call them without them having titles or epithets.
"I am Mash Kyrielight. I am an apprentice here." Mash, huh? Judging by how she said it as 'Mashu' she must speak an eastern language natively. Curious.
"Oh! Good to meet you, Mash! I'm Ai! Fujimaru Ai! I'm a new hire myself." Ai, huh? I wonder how it was written. I hope not with certain characters that I know would give a mortal wound to any self respecting adult.
Ai turned her gaze to me. Now that I thought about it, I never introduced myself, huh? Just as I made to do so, a man in a lab coat happened to come across the three of us (plus the monster).
"Huh? Oh! I was looking for you, Mashu!" The professor looking type came up to us, taking stock of Ai and myself. "Are you two new hires?" He posed the question cautiously, as if he were afraid of some sort of backlash finding its way to him.
I simply nodded while Ai gave a cheerful, "Mhm!"
"Alright then. In that case, follow me. I'll show you to your quarters and then guide you to the hall where the director will be giving orientation. It's along the way, c'mon."
He strode off, long legs meaning he walked fast. Ai and Mash were speed walking to keep up - Mash less than Ai. Oh growth spurt, thank you for coming in.
"I'm Doctor Romani. If you'd like, you can call me Doctor Roman. I'm the head of the medical facility here in Chaldea. I take care of supporting those who go into the field with treatment here at base."
"I'm Ai! I just so happened to apply here and was accepted so I hope you'll be patient with me as I learn!"
Mash simply listened. Romani glanced over his shoulder at me, almost expectantly. I rose to the occasion.
"Uzumaki Naruto. I believe I have a modicum of an idea as to what this place is, judging by the... pets that inhabit this facility." I glared at the beast shaped like a plushie.
Ai tilted her head at my knife eyed gaze. I understood why, it seemed like I was judging her - Fou was nestled on her shoulder. Thankfully she seemed to grasp what I drew issue with and simply giggled. "This guy? He's harmless - and cute! How could you speak so meanly about him?"
Easily I groused - in my mind. I knew an argument that'd go no where and I had no inclination to engage in it. Romani seemed to be confused by my words so I decided I'd simply drop it for now. Maybe I could poison its food.
Finally we reached our midway point - the quarters. And would you know it, Ai and I were assigned the same bunk. How quaint. "Ooh, I get to room with Mister Sunshine! Sounds fun!" Ai was enthusiastic, at least. I hope she doesn't snore. I don't. Despite whatever my team used to say, I do not. There's no way an unstoppable ninja such as myself snores. Well, not so unstoppable now. Still, I do not snore. I will punch anyone who says otherwise. Have as well.
"I'll be in your care then, Miss Fujimaru." I was being polite. Maybe it was a prod to see how she'd react.
"If we're going to be sleeping together, we should at least be friends! Call me Ai." I was not disappointed. What a bubbly and earnest girl. How did she get this job?
"Then I'm Naruto to you." I was smiling, wasn't I? Felt nice. I didn't do that enough anymore. Romani looked between us for a moment, a weak smile on his face as he rummaged through his pockets. After a few he grimaced.
"I don't have your access cards on me. If you meet me in my office after orientation, I should have them for you. We don't have much time before the Director will get mad at me - err, you guys for being late. Come along now."
Mashu had been rather quiet for the time being but a soft exhale of air escaped her. Amusement, I suspected. Romani certainly was shaping up to be a comedic relief type of person. I hope the easygoingness of my workplace kept up. I knew it wouldn't but the thought was nice.
Doctor Roman lead us to a set of double doors and input a code. The doors hissed open, allowing us into an antechamber with a massive globe and a haughty looking woman in the beginnings of a speech.
I knew we'd just made it, judging by the angered glare she sent us. No, not us, Romani. Well, maybe us as well but I think the Doctor felt it the most intensely, judging by the shriveling up he was doing. Wow, that was an impressive skill.
Still, she didn't scold us, so we went to go have a seat.
xxxx
Well, that was quite the event. Ai fell asleep and was booted from the orientation. Somehow I was taken as collateral. Despite the public lashing, Ai didn't seem unrepentant as she happily hummed as we made our way to Romani's office.
"Ai." I began. "Did you have to fall asleep on my shoulder? I was quite into the whole spiel she was giving about a grand order."
Ai turned around, walking backwards. "Well, it was just so boring.. She kept saying things I didn't understand. Just what is this place we're working at? A LARPer convention with too much money?"
I peered at her bewildered. She... she was just a normal person, wasn't she? I thought she was a tad too green but considering she was on the same flight I was on, she must have just applied because a flier said this job paid well. I should probably convince her she should quit.
"Ai -" I began, only to be cut off by a man in a green suit with a purple tie.
"Oh, it's you two. The two who got booted from dear Olga's meeting for falling asleep." I didn't even hear him approach. He seems dangerous. Then again, so did a lot of the people back in that room. Especially the director. Still, none of them made my sixth sense tingle like this guy. I could taste something palpably dangerous about this man before myself and Ai. I didn't notice it immediately but I had placed myself slightly between the orangette and this man in the green tophat.
"Calm down, I'm just here to give you some directions. My name is Lev Lainur, by the way. I'm one of the technicians here at Chaldea. Director Olga wanted me to take you to Doctor Romani for basic training. After all, you're both Master candidates."
Masters... Olga had said that in the briefing as well. I know what the word means but the way these people use it unsettles me. I looked at Ai before I shrugged helplessly. Lev seemed fine, he might just be a powerful user of the techniques here. Magecraft I think they were called.
With a flourish, Lev led us down the hall to Doctor Romani. Despite it being our original destination, I was certain we would have taken far longer without Lainur's help. This place was just that big.
Once we were deposited into Romani's care, Lev left with a tip of the hat. The doctor smiled apologetically as we were put through a crash course. He taught us various terms we would need to know. What magecraft was, our role as master candidates. All that good stuff. By the end of it, Ai looked like she was about to go insane. Still, it was useful knowledge. I used to not like learning, but now it was something I quite enjoyed.
It was going to be useful sooner than I imagined too, judging by the way the room lit up in emergency lighting. That was probably from the massive explosion that shook the facility.
For crying out loud, can't things like this happen after day one?