14 Chapter 14: Making some Plans.

A white-haired man walked into the store and the first thing he wanted to do was warn everyone and run away from there as fast as his feet could carry him. His instincts that were sharpened by countless battles were screaming at him, telling him to 'run the hell out of here.'

By then Teuchi was back with the ramen and Aster simply picked up the chopsticks and dug in. The taste was very good, even compared to the cuisines he had tasted back in his own world, Aster was sure that this ranks in the top ten. Despite this being a world in the middle ages, the ramen was too good, simply the best in the ramen category.

Aster finished his bowl in a minute and finished the soup to sigh in contentment. He took the parcels and a miniature version of Crystal popped out of a snowflake on his shoulder and Ashter vanished from the spot leaving a snowflake behind that broke into words, "The answers to your problems lie behind an orange mask. The moon will never bring peace, a relic of the past would awaken itself and only her blood can stop the tragedy."

"What? how did he just vanish? it was just like the fourth's jutsu but there was no chakra fluctuation nor was a signature left behind. And what is this all about? the orange mask, was he talking about Tobi or Madoka? but all the rest makes no sense." Kakashi shared his views on it and looked toward Naruto.

"Get Shikaku to see if this is a code. I want you to take a team and find him, he knows much more than he let on, and tread carefully, we have no idea about his power level." Tsunade ordered.

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Somewhere in a cave near the Hokage Mountain.

Two girls, a boy, and an octopus were sitting around a little fire pit made by Amelia using cold fire, that gives out no heat nor smoke. The cave was spatially expanded and under muggle repelling charm that would be foolproof unless someone with a Mangekyou Sharingan pops out from nowhere.

Aster appears from a snowflake and walks toward them with a smile and the parcels in his hands. "I brought something nice for you guys, eat something first before we discuss plans."

Ha gave them each a bowl and the moment they opened it Kazuma, Koro Sensei, and Ruri looked at Aster with expectant eyes.

"Yes, it is Ichiraku ramen, have a taste. I already had a bowl so finish up quickly while I read up a bit more." Aster said as he plugged in his earphones.

"So, Koro Sensei, what's the current situation outside Konoha?" Aster asked the octopus who clearly wanted more of that delicious ramen.

"The beginning of the Fourth Great Shinobi War was declared by Tobi when the five Kage and the leader of the Land of Iron unanimously refused to surrender the Eight and Nine-Tails for his Eye of the Moon Plan. He then stated that he would use the seven tailed beasts already captured by the Akatsuki in combating the ninja world." Koro Sensei answered with a tentacle under his round chin and continued with his observation.

"After this the Fifth Kazekage, the Fifth Mizukage, the Fourth Raikage, the Third Tsuchikage, and General Mifune agreed to form a Shinobi Alliance, pooling all their resources against Tobi. Later the daimyō of the Five Great Shinobi Countries approved the coalition and the Fifth Hokage joined the alliance while Kabuto Yakushi formed an alliance with Tobi or better said, Obito."

"Both factions began by gathering their strength and collecting intelligence about the other side in preparation for the upcoming hostilities. Kisame gathered intelligence on Kumogakure's military strength and on Killer B while traveling with him everywhere hidden inside Samehada. Anko Mitarashi and her team track Kabuto Yakushi, which led them to Tobi's headquarters. Other Shinobi Alliance teams have fanned out to collect other information about Akatsuki and their hideouts. So what will our next move be?" The yellow octopus asked.

"We wait here till Madoka fights against the Allied forces alone, we watch her, let's see what this version of the strongest Shinobi is capable of. Then we step in at the final moment when Black Zetsu attacks Madara from behind and starts to change his body into Kaguya's after the Infinite Tsukiyomi is complete. Any suggestions?" Aster declared the plan and looked at the four of them to see if they had anything to add.

"Did you meet someone from the main cast when you were out there?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, I did, I met a naruto clone he left in the village, then Tsunade, and finally Kakashi. They really are the same as the story had shown." Aster chuckled at the memory.

"So, who are we going to invite?" Ruri asked the million-dollar question.

"Tsunade, she's got them knockers." Koro Sensei.

"Madoka, she is strong and can also be reliable in the future quests." Kazuma.

"Naruto, he is the protagonist, right? He is also a great fighter with Sage mode and Kurama mode as well as the Six Path mode, I say we invite him." Ruri.

"Not him, he may be strong but his worldview is not suitable for the things we deal with. For him the world is simply black and white, where there is little black and the 'talk no jutsu deals with everything'. This won't work in other worlds, and we can't afford to have an idealist who can put the quests in jeopardy. He is an emotionally driven fool who does not use his head and that's, even more, a reason that he can't be invited." Aster explained.

"If that's the case, Madoka would fit the bill perfectly, she might have been manipulated by Black Zetsu, but she truly desired peace and made more sacrifices than anyone on that front. She is strong and capable, I guess we can invite her." Amelia.

"Then we have a decision, we invite Madoka but we can not let her stay in this world any longer after we save her from her death, to maintain the plot's continuation. So, let's divide the work." Aster spoke.

"For now, Koro Sensei will just go around and scout information to ensure that this AU version does not pack unsavory surprises. I will shroud the cave entrance in a mist that will prevent people and animals from getting in, but it will let you guys enter and exit freely."

"Ruri, you will read up on Medical Ninjutsu and assimilate the knowledge to polish your healing skills. Amelia, you help Ruri get some scrolls on medical Ninjutsu from the Hospital and the Library. Kazama, you go to the market and scout for information within Konoha and get our supplies as well. Make sure to remain discreet while you are at it, we don't want you to get caught and interrogated by a Yamanaka." Aster finished speaking and saw them nodding in approval.

"It sure is troublesome to have such restrictions to maintain the plot, changing the plot where we could have a bit more room to maneuver. Regardless, let's deal with this and go back home, but what are we forgetting?" Kazuma stood up and patted his pants to remove the dust on them.

"You Bakazuma, weren't you listening to Aster, Madoka can't stay in this world, so one of us will have to bring her with them. Now the question is who?" Ruri sighed, "I surely can't have a battle crazy shinobi that can destroy armies on her own in my world."

"Same for me, I am the only thing that is out of the norms in my world for now and I don't think that I can fit another character that is probably stronger than me in my world. And she is not the kind to lay low, so no from my side as well." Koro-sensei had a red 'X' on his yellow face.

"Alright, I will keep her with me in the castle. She can teach me how to fight to keep herself entertained or we can do other fun stuff she has been missing on and I have yet to explore." Aster took one for the team.

"You sure you can live with her under the same roof?" Ruri asked.

"Why not, I have two floors, I can take one while she takes the other, I can expand the castle if we need something," Aster replied.

"But what if she turns out to be super ugly? What will you do then?" Kazuma asked with an ulterior motive.

"Who cares, I am a spirit, I lived long enough to know tolerance and acceptance." Aster just shrugged it off.

"Oh, Koro Sensei, can you get me some Meterioid Metal from the land of stars and a bit of some good quality Chakra Metal, while you are at it?" Aster asked.

"Sure," the octopus replied before vanishing.

"Alright guys, get to the missions, I will hold the fort and be prepared to give back up in any situation, if you land in trouble send a ping on the Chat Group," Aster said as he waved at them from the cave.