Eroninja

Naruto had awoken the next morning feeling like he could have slept through the apocalypse. Having headed to Kiyomi's mansion first thing upon waking, he had been surprised to find Mikoto there. The Uchiha though had quickly excused herself after he had arrived making him fear that she was still angry at him. Mito though had assured him that wasn't the case, but had not clarified why she believed such to be true.

Naruto hated leaving the village with Mikoto in such a conflicted state, but Karin had hired him to escort some supplies to a nomadic tribe in the Land of Wind. According to her being awarded the job was a major deal primarily since it was one that she had negotiated away from one of the Great Tree Shipping Companies competitors. It turned out that the competitor had lost the contract due in part to the difficulty of the supply run. This was due to the wandering nature of the group they were to deliver the supplies to. Since the Deserts of Wind Country could be quite harsh and unforgiving the tribe couldn't just stay in one spot and needed to move at a moment's notice. Therefore there were actually several spots that Naruto would need to visit in hopes of either catching up to the tribe or waiting for it to arrive.

Since making the delivery would involve quite a bit of guess work and could involve quite a lot of moving, it opened them up to the possibility of being hit by bandits. The previous company to hold the contract for making the deliveries had lost four of the last five shipments. As a result they had wanted to charge more for their services, but also had refused to insure the shipments. Karin had seen the opportunity and had actually offered a much lower price and promised to insure the shipment for anything that was lost to bandits. Naruto chuckled actually finding his still being a genin a boon since the village could only charge Karin the price for a C-ranked mission, while at the same time sending someone as powerful as him along.

Reaching the headquarters of the Great Tree Shipping Company, Naruto could see the wagon that he would be in charge of parked out front. As he approached, Karin and a blue-haired woman that he recognized from the crystal clones he had destroyed stepped out. Karin smiled at him as she waved him order and once he approached said pleasantly, "Naruto, I'm going to partner you with our newest employee Guren."

Naruto stuck out his hand as he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you...officially that is."

Guren let the offered hand hang in the air, but at least did give him a curt nod. Turning her gaze to Karin, she said, "I do not remember agreeing to become your employee. I'm simply doing this job since you made it quite clear you would continue to pester me in prison if I did not."

Karin smiled as she remembered how Guren had shot her offer to work for her down when she had visited the prison with Ibiki. She had continued to head back to the prison to work on Guren until she had finally agreed to at least guard one shipment. The red-head nodded but couldn't help smirking as she said, "Well as you well know I can be quite persistent. I'm sure after this job you'll come to realize that this is the place that you can return to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Guren said confused.

"She means she hopes that you'll come to see the Company as a home," Naruto explained.

With a shrug Karin added, "And who knows maybe even a family." Advertisements

Both Uzumaki saw that the mention of family made Guren uncomfortable, so before she could back out Naruto asked, "What can you tell us about what we're protecting?"

"Basically it's just medical supplies and other provisions that the tribe uses to trade with villages in Wind Country," Karin said as she pulled a map from her pouch. She handed it to Naruto who unfurled it and explained, "They move along the route shown on the map. The X's are places that the caravan will be stopping at."

"What about the client?" Naruto asked.

"I'm here," a young woman perhaps a little younger than Naruto said as she ran to the group. She bowed politely to them as she said, "I'm sorry I'm late. This is just my first time being in an actual Shinobi Village. I got distracted taking in the sights."

Naruto smiled as he took in the young woman's appearance. She had light red hair that she wore with two long bangs that looped back and were held in place by the headband she wore around her head. She wore an orange robe with purple trim. Naruto also noticed an old battered blade that hung from a cord she wore around her neck. He noticed the symbol of the Leaf Village on the blade as he noted that except for its old condition it looked like one of the newer chakra blades the village had developed to deal with puppet users by cutting their chakra strings. Finding the blade strange he ignored it as he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

The girl's eyes grew wide as she said, "R-really...I've heard a lot of people talking about you. They say you're the Hero of the Village. How could Karin's company afford to hire you to protect the supplies I purchased?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment still not used to people calling him such. But getting over it explained, "Well I'm still a genin, so I can't imagine the village is able to charge more for my services then they would for any other genin being assigned a C-ranked mission. Pardon my asking but who do I have the pleasure of addressing."

The girl's eyes went wide as her cheeks grew red at forgetting to introduce herself. Bowing again she said, "I'm Seramu, Daughter of Sara, the leader of my caravan and former Queen of Roran."

"Seramu," Naruto repeated, "It's a beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

The girl's cheeks grew redder as she responded, "T-thank you...I was named after my grandmother."

Naruto nodded as he said, "Well rest easy Seramu, Guren and I will see that you and your supplies are safely delivered."

*****

The sun had set on the third day of the journey to deliver the supplies to Seramu's tribe. The young woman was currently asleep leaving the two shinobi to secure and clean the camp before they would take turns keeping watch. Naruto was finding it hard to get the former Sound-nin to open up, as she barely spoke except when the situation called for it. Therefore most of the conversing had been between Seramu and him. He had learned that Roran used to be a huge city composed of towers, but eventually been destroyed by a coalition of bandits hoping for plunder. It had been Seramu's mother Sara that had prevented the destruction from reaching the most important part of her kingdom, the people.

After the destruction of Roran, Sara had banded her people together and with her husnand they had lived as a nomadic tribe which survived from trading with other tribes and the villages they encountered along their travels. It appeared to be a rather harsh life as Seramu had told him that her father had been killed by bandits during a raid on the caravan. All in all hearing the tale made Naruto curious about the woman in charge since in his experience most nobles would have fallen to pieces if they had been thrown in similar circumstances.

Figuring he'd get a chance to meet her soon enough, he focused on Guren as he said, "We'll be entering Wind Country tomorrow. Seramu believes her caravan will be near the Bleached Bones Oasis."

"That would mean they're on the opposite side of Wind Country. Before we commit to traveling there it might be best to check one of the closer X's to see if we can pick up any other signs of her group."

Naruto gave the matter some thought before nodding his agreement. "That makes sense. Even if they aren't there, we should be able to get some idea of where they are from other tribes that may be camped there." Guren nodded and seemed willing to let the conversation die there so Naruto asked, "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself Guren? This could be a long trip and I'd like to get to know you better."

Guren turned her dark eyes to Naruto, and he figured she intended to ignore the question, but finally said, "I'm a monster who's destroyed everyone that's shown her the smallest kindness. I only plan to do this job so that Karin will leave me alone. Once it's finished I intend to return to prison and rot away. It's the only happiness garbage like me deserves."

Naruto gave the woman a sad look as he said, "I don't believe that's true Guren. I believe..."

"With all due respect," Guren said cutting him off, "I don't care what you think. You don't know me, or the horrible things I've done."

"You're right of course," Naruto countered, "But I did hear how Yukimaru sacrificed himself for you." Naruto paused as Guren's eyes went wide at the name as a pained look entered them. "I may not have known him either, but when a person sacrifices themselves for someone. It isn't so that they will be miserable for the rest of their days."

"What do you know about it?" Guren asked heatedly as she spun towards the jinchuriki. "How can I be happy knowing that Yukimaru sacrificed himself for the monster that took his mother from him? It's because of me that he ultimately ended up in Orochimaru's hands. How can I be expected to just carry on without a care in the world knowing I was the one that doomed him?"

"Nobody is asking you to forget his sacrifice, Guren," Naruto stated. "But would you best honor his memory locked away in prison. You've seen how your bad actions have led to a good persons end. But Yukimaru's end, has given you a chance to help more people then you've harmed. I know that he would want you to make the most of the life that he saved."

"H-how can you know that?"

Naruto gave a sad smile as he answered, "Because I know it's what my parents who sacrificed their lives for me would have wanted. Those of us, who are left behind, owe it to those who give up their lives for us to live each day to the fullest."

Guren turned away as she said softly, "The difference between us though is that my hands are stained with blood and I was unworthy of a second chance." Naruto was about to disagree, but she cut him off, "I'm tired. I'll take the second watch. Good night."

"Good night Guren," Naruto said as the woman moved to her tent. Looking up at the stars he saw one wink out and hoped that wasn't an omen of things to come.

*****

Kiyomi took a sip of her sake as she sat in the outdoor bath of her hotel room. She stared up at the stars and wondered if Naruto was doing the same as she could feel that he was away from Konoha. Her thoughts of her lover were interrupted as her companion on her journey asked, "So how much longer do you plan to run from your argument with Naruto?"

Kiyomi looked at Miya Asama with some annoyance as she replied, "I am not running. I'm simply postponing the resuming of it until a date of my choosing. Honestly, outside of the fact that by taking them captive I was able to master the skills needed to give birth to Sage, those three have been more trouble than they were worth. Now if you don't mind the last thing I want to talk about is them."

"Fair enough," Miya said with a shrug. Although she had aligned with the Taki-nin while they were in prison, she knew it was merely on of convenience and that Yuffie would have turned on her as she had on Mikoto if she believed she and her teammates would benefit. Dropping the matter she asked, "Then perhaps you'd be willing to discuss why you brought me along?"

"Well your treatments to increase your chakra are just about complete," Kiyomi said after taking another sip of her drink. "Therefore I wished to get some idea of what your plans for the future are."

Miya frowned since she had been wondering much the same thing. Since her escape from the prison, Miya had learned the Fourth Mizukage had been killed. The woman responsible for his death had apparently succeeded him and although it was only rumors at this point possessed not one, but two Kekkei Genkai. With the news of the Fourth Mizukage's death, Miya had found that much of her hatred towards her home village had disappeared. Yet, despite that she still felt no desire to return, which left her in a state of limbo as it were. After a long pause she finally said, "I don't know to be honest. I had entertained plans of killing the Mizukage, but his successor already took care of that. Kisame is still out there, but you've defeated Akatsuki so who knows when he'll pop up again."

"True, Tobi's Akatsuki has been dealt a blow. But I wouldn't say they've been defeated just yet. The enemy has already proven they can be quite patient."

Miya frowned as she asked, "What are you saying?"

"Rumors say that Akatsuki was born in the Land of Water," Kiyomi replied as she refilled her cup. "We know this to be false, but I wonder where the rumors came from."

Miya shrugged. "What does it matter?"

"It matters because it would lead one to believe that Tobi and Kisame have been allies long before they officially joined Akatsuki. Since I know that Tobi can control a tailed beast..."

"You're saying he may have been behind the Mizukage's behavior as well," Miya said shocked at the implications of what Kiyomi was suggesting.

"A rather intriguing theory wouldn't you agree. This of course would mean that we share a common enemy," Kiyomi said with a pleased smile as Miya's gaze darkened at the implications.

"What then are you suggesting?" Miya said guardedly. "I have no intention of becoming bound to Naruto."

Kiyomi gave a wide smile as she said, "Of course you don't. But if you intend to settle things with Kisame, and by extension Tobi, then would there be no better place to be then by his side. You don't need to become his lover, but would you be averse to being his landlady?" Miya looked confused so Kiyomi explained, "As you know I'm rebuilding the apartment building above the Den. I would like for you to handle the day to day activities of running it. You'll be compensated and be in an excellent position to hear about it when Tobi or Kisame poke their heads out from whatever rock they are hiding under."

Miya thought about it for a moment before nodding as she said, "Fine, I'll take the position. But I'm not going to let it become his s.εﾒ palace."

"Of course not," Kiyomi said with a smile, "That's what the Den is for, after all."

*****

A week had passed since Naruto and the others had entered the Land of Wind. After checking with several passing nomadic groups Naruto was confident that they were close to Seramu's caravan. He looked back to see the girl was talking with Guren, who had appeared to be taking his words to heart. Guren smiled softly at something the young woman said, but it faded quickly as her eyes drifted skywards. Naruto turned to follow her gaze and saw smoke rising above a nearby dune.

Seramu noticed it a moment later and quite aware of what it meant whispered horrified, "Oh no." She then darted off in the direction of the smoke.

Naruto cursed as he created several clones to direct the horses pulling the wagon as he charged off after the young woman. Guren followed behind him, as they chased after Seramu. They easily caught up due to the young woman dropping to her knees as she crested the hill. Both shinobi paused as they followed suit to take in the destroyed caravan. "Come on," Naruto shouted, "there might be some survivors."

Reaching the caravan, Seramu gasped as she spotted several corpses of the men charged with its protection. She spun and buried her head into Naruto's chest who wrapped her in a protective embrace. The young woman began to sing a beautiful song to herself as Guren began to inspect the destruction. "What do you think happened?" Naruto asked as he continued to stroke Seramu's back.

"It looks like slavers," Guren said as she pointed to one of the overturned wagons.

Looking at what she was pointing out, Naruto saw that it was filled with several valuable rugs and other items that he figured bandits would have made off with. That coupled with the fact that the only dead they saw appeared to be the warriors of the group seemed to imply that it was the people of the caravan that the attackers were interested in.

Naruto pulled away from the girl crying against her chest as he said, "Don't worry Seramu. We'll get your people back."

"I don't have the money to pay for such a mission," Semaru said feeling helpless.

At least until Naruto smiled brightly at her as he said, "Hey, what sort of hero charges extra just because the mission became more difficult. It wouldn't be the first time one of my C-ranked missions shot up the chart." Naruto's clones crested the ridge as he added, "Stay here. Attend to your fallen. I'll bring your mom and people back. I promise."

*****

Sara pulled back in disgust as a massive dark-skinned man with a blond Mohawk reached through the bars of her cell to grab her chin, "My you're a pretty young thing luv. How about you keep me warm tonight?"

Before Sara could give her opinion on the matter a cultured voice said, "Honestly why does Bison see fit to pair me with such brutes. I will not warn you again Birdie. You are to keep your filthy hands off the merchandise."

Sara was almost more repulsed by her would be protector since despite his cultured way of carrying himself. She could almost feel he was far more monstrous then the hulking brute. The way he looked at her, made Sara feel as if he would wine and dine her and then after having his fun slowly skin her flesh from her body.

"Ah come on, Vega," Birdie said turning towards the man. "What does Bison want with these people anyway? You can't tell me he'd miss one slave."

"You are testing my patience," Vega replied angrily. "The only reason Shadaloo hired your little group is because the Southern Wolves were wiped out. Tessai may have been just as big a brute as you, but at least he was a professional and knew best not to mix business with pleasure. It is none of your concern what Bison wants these people for. You only need to make sure they are delivered in good condition."

Sara turned away as the two left the tent they were holding the prisoners in. She smiled reassuringly at her people as she said, "Don't worry everyone. I'm sure we'll be rescued."

"How?" one of the children asked her fearfully.

"Seramu is still free, and she should realize what has happened to us. I'm sure she'll be able to get word to those who will help us," Sara said reassuringly.

"Do you think your dream warrior will save us?" another of the children asked.

Sara smiled at the child that had recalled the story she often told about how she had received the chakra blade she had given to her daughter. The details of the encounter were fuzzy leading her to believe it was a dream, but what she did recall was that she had awoken to find several Leaf shinobi unconscious with her in the room that was the central point of the Ryumyaku flow that coursed beneath the ground. She didn't recall what had brought them there, nor did the Leaf Shinobi. But the masked man in charge of the squad surmised that it was likely due to their mission to defeat her minister Anrokuzan from raising a puppet army using the Ryumyaku. That her kingdom had been covered in the remains of broken puppets and her minister was missing seemed to lend credibility to the Leaf Shinobi's story. She would learn that the Great Sleep as it was called later had afflicted all the people of her kingdom, none of whom could recall exactly what had happened in the twenty-four hours before waking up. The Leaf shinobi had explained that it might have been a side-effect of their shutting down the Ryumyaku, but Sara was sure there was more to it than that.

This was due to the dreams she had over the weeks that had passed after the incident. Dreams filled with a man whose face always appeared hazy, but who had given her the blade that she had so greatly cherished. Sara for a time had felt she loved the Dream Warrior, but as with most dreams those feelings eventually faded for something she could touch. Seramu's father, had been a good man that she had loved dearly, but at times she would find herself wondering about her dream warrior.

Turning her thoughts back to the present she said positive of her response, "I'm sure if he knew of our plight he'd do everything in his power to rescue us."

*****

Guren didn't know what to make of the young man she had been traveling with for the pass to weeks. At times he could almost appear buffoonish like when he had accidently stepped in a pile of shit shortly after their leaving Konoha, but then there were moments when he was serious and seemed capable of offering great insights.

She would be lying if she said that at times she didn't feel drawn to him. But she chalked it up to his continued insistence that she deserved to be happy. Not to mention his many attempts to include her in the campfire conversation he and the client had.

Ultimately though Guren knew she didn't deserve to be happy. She had basked in the pain and suffering of others for too long to ever deserve to be happy. Naruto was a sweet man, but in the end she felt he was too naïve to understand. There were just too many ghosts in her closest that she was sure would love to drag her to hell for her many sins.

Watching his back as they raced over the dunes in the direction of the tracks one of his clones had found. She found that she wished that Naruto had been a part of the Leaf forces that had opposed her and her squad during the disastrous mission to capture the three-tails. She was quite certain that had Naruto been there it would have ended in such a way that she could perhaps still have been saved.

Naruto paused and held up his hand but Guren didn't need to ask why as she could just make out the lights of fires from the other side of the dune. Naruto dropped down to a crouch as he climbed the dune to look over the edge. Guren followed closely behind him and frowned as she saw the small force of armed shinobi. She felt Naruto tense next to her and following his gaze saw that it rested on a tall man whose long blond hair was worn in a braid along his back. He wore no shirt but a snake was tattooed onto his chest, which wrapped around his stomach and arm.

"Do you know him?" she asked and was confused by his shaking of his head since his reaction had indicated they had met before.

She sensed that Naruto knew he hadn't covered his reaction well so explained, "He matches the description of a man that attacked several genin in Wave. He was supposed to be a buyer for the S.I. N Corporation, but he appears to be much more than that."

Guren frowned since she still felt Naruto had more personal reasons for his reaction and was withholding some of the truth from her. But she nodded since she felt that it was likely due to it being linked to secrets he couldn't share with her. "We need to handle this carefully," Naruto said concerned for the safety of the captives. "I'm guessing they are being kept in that central tent that Vega came out of. But if we guess wrong then they may kill the captives just to prevent us from rescuing them."

"They might if they believe the rescuers are hoping to save the captives," Guren said after a moment of thought. "But if they believed the attackers were rival slavers."

Naruto smiled as he said, "I believe we can handle that."

*****

Sara sat surrounded by her people and their children as she watched them sleep despite the current conditions. She envied them the ability since despite her own daughter being safe, her concern for them kept her awake. She knew it was silly and that it showed just how desperate their situation was, but she found herself even asking her dream hero for help. She was about to close her own eyes to hopeful dream of a world where her hero answered her call, when a tremendous yell carried over one of the dunes. Sounding like an army on the attack, Sara looked out the entrance of the tent they were being kept in to see what appeared to be bandits or rival slavers charging the camp. The people in the camp began to respond to the threat, but the sight did little to lift Sara's spirts as she knew for her people it was likely they were likely exchanging one kidnapper for another.

*****

Naruto waited for Guren's henged clones to pull most of the guards away from his location on the opposite side of the camp. While he liked to think he could wipe the floor with the bastards, he would have to wait until after the hostages were safe. He looked forward to that moment as he intended to pay Vega back for what he and the bruiser with him had done to Konohamaru's squad.

Seeing that as many of the guards willing to move had, Naruto quickly charged down the dune towards a pair of sentries. Luckily they were preoccupied with the chaos on the other side of the camp rather than making sure their side was secure so Naruto easily handled them with a Sage powered punch the sent the men tumbling. Quickly reaching the tent, Naruto sliced through the fabric in the back using his chakra blades. Aware that it was empty except for the scared captives he slipped inside to find most of the people had awaken and were staring at the battle going on.

Naruto spared a moment to see how Guren's clones were faring and cursed as he saw that several had been destroyed already. Aware that once someone with some brains realized the attackers weren't human that they would like figure out the attack was a diversion, Naruto knew he needed to get the people moving. Channeling chakra into his blades he sliced the bars to the cage causing the people to look back towards him. Giving them a reassuring smile he said, "Come on! I've been sent by Seramu to rescue you. Head out the back."

Hearing their fellow tribeswoman's name the captives all quickly did as Naruto instructed, except for a woman in the back that greatly resembled Seramu, and who was simply staring at him like she had seen him before but couldn't place where. Not sure why the woman was staring at him when she should be escaping Naruto charged into the cell and guessing her to be his client's mother said, "Sara, pull yourself together. Your people need you."

Hearing that, snapped Sara out of her daze as she said, "Yes, your right. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Naruto said following the woman out the tent. "Let's save the celebrating till you're safely reunited with your daughter."

Sara was about to agree when a high pitched yell cut through the night. Looking up to where it came from she saw Vega leaping from the top of the tent towards them his claw aimed for Sara's heart. Naruto leapt in front of her and used his blade to block the blow. He grunted and was pushed back into her as Vega used where Naruto blocked his blade as a pivot to bury his feet into the blond's chest before leaping away.

Vega landed smoothly on his feet opposite Naruto and as he straightened up said, "Naruto Uzumaki. You have an annoying habit of showing up where you aren't wanted."

Naruto motioned for Sara to continue running as he created several clones to escort her. He turned back towards Vega slowly and for a moment was concerned that the man realized that he had been one of the Hunter-nin that had prevented him and Balrog from killing Team Ebisu. But sensing that perhaps he had some prior run in with S.I.N or whoever was actually pulling the man's strings said, "I'm pretty good with masks. I don't remember squaring off with you before."

Vega chuckled as he said, "No we've never had the pleasure of tangling before. But, your past actions have caused us considerable setbacks."

"I can't really say that I'm sorry to hear that if you spend your time kidnapping people," Naruto said preparing to charge. He stopped though as a cloaked figure dropped in front of Vega. Naruto frowned as he couldn't get a sense of the person even with his Sage abilities active. He could tell that it was a woman via the chakra he could feel, but the cloaked figure almost felt like a doll with no personality.

"Please evacuate sir," the cloaked figure said. "Lord Bison would not wish for you to be captured here."

"I think the same could be said for you Cammy. Do not dally long."

"Affirmative," the woman said tossing her cloak to reveal the beret and green leotard that she wore. Marking Naruto's face she added, "Target confirmed."

Charging forward as Vega leapt away, Cammy leapt at Naruto as she began to spin in a feet first version of fang over fang. Naruto leapt over the attack, but Cammy landed beneath him and leapt upwards connecting with a shot to his stomach. Naruto groaned from the blow as he landed roughly on the ground. Cammy pressed her advantage as she charged where the jinchuriki was lying. Raising her foot all the way up to her head she attempted to bring it down on his skull, but Naruto blocked the blow as he glared angrily at the woman with his yellow eyes.

He pushed the woman's foot back with enough power that she was forced to flip backwards to keep up with it. Landing on her feet as Naruto flipped back to his, she moved to charge him again. But she was forced to leap out of the way as Naruto reached her first and had attempted to bury his fist in her stomach. Cammy, rolled to her feet and tried to attack his exposed back, but Naruto spun in place and connected with a backhanded fist which although greatly powered down still hit with enough force to send the woman spinning away. She hit the ground hard, but nevertheless tried to get back up.

Naruto moved to secure the woman, but a large cloud of sand shot into the air on the opposite side of the tent pulling his attention away. Aware that Guren might be in trouble, he turned back to his opponent and saw that she had managed to flee as his focus shifted. Able to sense her chakra he knew he could still catch up to her, but unwilling to leave Guren to face the rest of the slavers by herself moved to offer his assistance.

However, he made it a handful of steps before a large contingent of bandits began streaming down the hill. Seeing that they were heading for the central tent where the captives had been held, he figured that they were opportunist hoping to take advantage of the chaos in order to make off with the goods while the Marauders were defending the camp from Guren's attack. "When it rains it pours," Naruto said preparing to meet the charge since he didn't want them going after the free captives once they realized they were already gone. He just hoped Guren could hold out until he arrived.

*****

Guren watched as the dark-skinned man appeared from the dust cloud he had made as he smashed her clone into the ground. Forming crystal blades on her forearms, she quickly closed with him and made a swipe at his stomach. Birdie blocked the blow using the chains wrapped around his forearms before lashing out with a kick. Guren crossed her arms and blocked the blow, but skidded back on her heals.

Before she could attack once more she was forced to defend herself from one of her opponent's men as he swung a short sword at her back. Guren blocked the blow with her left forearm blade before cutting the man's leg off at the knee with her free hand. Spinning she attempted to finish him by burying a blade in his chest, but Birdie used the moment to unfurl the chain around his right forearm and threw it so that it wrapped around her outstretched arm.

He pulled her off her feet towards him, but Guren used her free arm to slice the chain off and before she had even landed created a crystal dragon which sped towards the large man and hit him in his chest. The jutsu picked him up and carried him until it smashed into a wagon. Guren's attention was pulled from him as several of Birdie's marauders charged her having finished off the last of her crystal clones.

Guren turned to face the closer threats. Fashioning several crystal shuriken in midair she sent them flying towards the charging marauders. One hit true catching the man in the throat causing him to fall back into one of the other men. The third reached her, but she parried his downward strike by crossing her forearm blades over her head. Before she could try to push him back she heard Naruto shout, "Guren watch out!"

She was pushed to the side just as a broken axel from the wagon Birdie had crashed into smashed into her rescuer as well as her attacker. She stared at the shocked Naruto who was impaled on the makeshift weapon as was the man she had been fighting.

"N-no," Guren said weakly not wishing to see another good person die for her. "No!" she shouted as she rounded to face a smirking Birdie as his remaining men began to close in around her. His smile faded though as suddenly the ground began to shake before razor sharp crystals began to shoot up from the ground around her.

Birdie's smirk faded into horror as the sprouting crystal forest decimated his men as they began to sprout branches which impaled them. He stood transfixed as Guren slowly approached him with more and more crystal spikes appearing in her wake. He snapped out of his daze as he watched one of his men leap through the growing crystal forest to leap at her back only for a crystal to shoot out of the ground and impale his stomach. Watching one of his few remaining men die got the large man moving in the opposite direction from the woman only to run right into the blond he thought he had killed. Naruto smashed his fist in the man's face knocking him out cold.

Looking at the crystalline structure that now stood in the middle of the desert Naruto said, "Maybe you should lead with that attack next time."

Guren had stopped in shock at seeing Naruto appear from the opposite side of the camp unharmed. She looked back at where the dead one should be and not seeing any sign of him realized it had been a clone. She felt tears appear at the corners of her eyes, but pushed them away as she said, "What took you so long?"

Naruto jerked his thumb back the way he had come as he answered, "We had some party crashers try and sneak in the back."

Guren nodded, but asked, "What are we going to do with them?"

Naruto picked up Birdie and despite the man's being much bigger than him, easily carried him over his shoulder as he said, "I figure we'll leave them tied up here. I'll make some clones to keep watch and send one to Suna. Gaara should be happy to learn some thugs who've been attacking his people have been dealt with."

Guren nodded as she kept telling herself that the Naruto, she had seen die was just a clone. But that a good person could have lost his life for her was all the convincing that she needed that she should remain locked away for the rest of her days so as to not let such a thing happen again.

*****

Naruto sat at a position of honor as he watched the people celebrating by dancing around a fire as others ate and drank. He looked at the people's leader who looked away quickly giving him the impression that she had been staring again. Naruto coughed gently into his fist to get her attention and he noticed that her cheeks gained a little color as she looked at him. Leaning forward he commented on the festivities, "This is the most lively funeral that I've ever been too."

Sara nodded as she said, "I can imagine. It took me a little getting used to as well after Roran was destroyed. It's a tradition of the caravan that we survivors joined with. Seramu's father was a tribal leader that I had married a few years before Roran's fall. He was the one that helped us go from a stationary kingdom to a band of travelers. The reason he gave for such a lively ceremony despite the solemn occasion was that the desert is a harsh place and every day of life you can squeeze from it is a victory. And thus when death inevitably wins you celebrate the many victories that came before."

Naruto nodded as he watched the people celebrate the lives of the warriors that had died defending their people. "Are you going to be okay with most of your protectors gone?"

Sara nodded as she answered determinedly, "We'll be okay. This is not the first time the desert has tried to claim the people of Roran. It shall not be the last." Sara paused like she wanted to ask him something, but then thought better of it. Naruto wondered if it was related to the looks that she kept sending towards him. He considered asking her, but felt that it might embarrass the woman.

He was about to ask her what Roran was like before it fell, but stopped as Seramu broke away from the people dancing around the fire to stop in front of him. Holding her hands out to him she asked, "Naruto come dance with me."

Naruto was tempted to take her up on her offer as he recalled how the girl had crushed herself to him upon his return with her tribesman and mother as she thanked him for keeping his promise. He had thought he sensed a hint of jealousy radiating from her mother, but quickly dismissed it as his imagination. Although he could hear a little envy in Sara's voice as she said, "Leave him be Seramu. I'm sure he's quite tired from fighting those men."

Seramu frowned at her mother, but before she could respond Naruto said, "Actually, I should go check on Guren. "

"Why does she refuse to come down?" Seramu asked as Naruto got back to his feet.

"She lost somebody important to her and believes she isn't deserving of happiness," Naruto said sadly on the woman in question behalf.

Naruto smiled as Seramu retook her position in the women dancing around the fire as he made his way to where Guren was. Finding her alone near a small grove of palm trees far away from the lights strewn about the camp he said, "You know this celebration is as much a thank you for us as it is to celebrate their love ones that passed on."

Guren looked back at Naruto for a moment as a weak smile appeared while she said, "I saw you eating. It looks like you did enough celebrating for the both of us."

"It would have been rude to let all that food go to waste," Naruto countered with a smile. Besides, my partner would prefer to sulk out her by herself." Guren didn't respond so Naruto asked, "Is this really what you think Yukimaru wants?"

Guren looked back at him as her eyes hardened. Angrily, she replied, "How should I know? But it doesn't matter. I've decided to return to prison after this job is completed. I don't deserve a second chance or to be happy."

"With all due respect I don't think that's a decision for you to make," Naruto said causing the woman to shoot to her feet.

"Where do you get off deciding that for me?"

"I'm not, well not entirely making that decision for you. I think Yukimaru did when he choose to give his life for yours. I don't think he would be happy knowing that you plan to spend the rest of your days being miserable," Naruto said.

W-why can't you understand...I-I've done horrible things..."

"And today your actions saved lots of people," the jinchuriki said closing the distance between them. "You wouldn't have been able to do that from a prison cell. Plus, you gave Yukimaru's gift to others as well"

"Gift," Guren said softly.

"That's right; his gift of life to you has been passed on to the people of Seramu's tribe. These people will always be indebted to him for saving you."

"W-what you say sounds nice...but it doesn't erase the things I've done in the past."

"No it doesn't," Naruto conceded, "But what you did back then doesn't invalidate what you did today either." Naruto stopped in front of Guren and let a mysterious smile appear on his face as he said, "Besides...according to desert law your life belongs to me now."

"W-what do you mean?" Guren said growing quite aware of Naruto's close proximity to her. She stepped back a little only to butt up against one of the trees.

Naruto smirked as he stepped closer and brought a hand up to Guren's cheek. Staring into her eyes he said, "Sara told me that when a person saves another's life, he must take responsibility for that person for the rest of his days."

"I...I release you from the obligation," Guren said feeling the warmth seeping into her from the blond's hand as she resisted leaning into it.

"That's nice of you," Naruto said bringing his lips closer to hers, "But, I don't wish to be released from it."

Naruto pressed his lips to hers causing Guren to stiffen. She pressed her hands to his chest but found she didn't have the strength to push him away. Naruto pulled back causing her to whisper, "W-what are you doing?"

She could feel the smile that appeared on his lips despite them still being only millimeters from hers as he said, "I take my obligations seriously. I'm going to remind you why it's great to be alive by pleasing your magnificent body."

Guren opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by another kiss from Naruto, who snuck his tongue into her mouth. Guren again stiffened as if to push him off, but once more found her strength unequal to the task. What's more to her embarrassment, she found that her body was quite appreciative to the blond's efforts as it began to grow flush.

She moaned into his mouth as he pressed his knee between her legs and against the tree as she pressed down on it ever so slightly. The sound forced Guren to accept that she wanted what Naruto was offering as she moved her hands up to his hair to pull their mouths closer together. Her tongue began to stroke against his as Naruto moved his own hands to the rope which held Guren's green robe closed.

Pulling it away, he let the robe open before sliding his hands to Guren's backside. He pressed her harder against his knee causing her to moan and to begin rubbing her mound against it. An action Guren mirrored as she moved her own gloved hands to Naruto's ass which she gave it a firm squeeze of.

Naruto pulled back, but only long enough to spin Guren around and press her front against the tree as he began to attack her neck with his lips. He groaned as he nibbled on her ear, when she pressed her ass up against his hardening cock and began to grind against it. Naruto cupped her mound from the front and feeling how wet she was through the thin shorts she wore beneath the robe said, "You're drenched down there. It's been a while hasn't it?"

Guren bit her lip and nodded as Naruto began to rub her cunt through her shorts. Feeling how hard he was she surmised, "What about you? I know you're no virgin...you're hands are too experienced...but it must have been some time for you to be this hard."

Naruto chuckled as he said, "No, it's just a testament to what a beautiful woman you are, Guren. The truth is..." He paused as he slid his hands into the front of her shorts and as he buried his middle finger inside her finished, "I actually have a harem of women who I love and cherish. Just as I plan to love and cherish you."

"W-what," Guren said, but found it easy to believe as it would explain how easily he was exciting her body. She suddenly recalled how Karin said her offer would change Guren's life and believing it had less to do with the job she had been offered as the man that she had been partnered with said, "K-karin is one..."

Naruto nodded against her head as he pulled the right side of her maroon shirt up to expose Guren's tit. Fondling it, and playing with her nipple he said, "That's right. Give yourself to me Guren and I promise you'll never have reason to regret it. Together we'll make a world Yukimaru could be proud of." Guren nodded as she bit her lip from the pleasurable sensations coursing through her, but Naruto said insistently, "Tell me!"

"Yes," Guren moaned, "Take me Naruto. Make me yours."

Naruto grinned hungrily as in a smooth motion he pulled his hands from the front of her shorts before pushing them down to her knees. Then quickly freeing his cock he began to kneel and pulled her down with him. Once his knees hit the ground he pulled her soaking quim onto his cock causing both of them to groan in delight.

Naruto then began a slow rocking of his hips as Guren held onto the tree in front of her. Guren barely moved as she received his gentle thrust as she let Naruto set the pace, but she moaned as his hands began to fondle both her breasts. Guren let go of the tree to lean back against his chest before turning her head to kiss him. Their tongues once more danced with each other as Guren's hands moved Naruto's ass to begin a gentle nudging action.

Naruto understood the gesture so began to increase the power and pace of his thrusts. Guren bit her lip as she struggled not to give voice to the moans that threatened to spill out less some of the revelers hear and investigate. It proved difficult as Naruto moved so that he could push her onto her hands as he began to pound her pussy with powerful thrusts that hit her deepest spot. Feeling r a tenseness beginning to settle over her, she moaned, "Y-yes...I...I'm going to...I'm going to cum." Advertisements

"Me too," Naruto grunted. Guren felt the dick sliding within her growing larger as Naruto groaned, "Oh fuck!"

Guren came as well as thick strands of cum began to fill her womb. Aware of her surroundings though, she didn't scream out as she instead whimpered and shook uncontrollably. She was about to collapse face first into the sand, but Naruto grabbed her around the stomach and pulled her back against his chest. He held her against him as he kissed the side of her face and said, "Remember this Guren. I'll always be there for you. I want to be the place you can return to."

Guren still catching her breath brought her hand up against Naruto's face to pull his lips against her neck. Naruto began to kiss along it, and feeling his dick once more begin to stir inside her, he began sliding her along his length once more. Guren moaned as her body began to react to the dick stirring up the cum it had just deposited. Letting herself be swept up in the pleasure she couldn't help but feel that Naruto was living up to his promise of reminding her body about the pleasures of being alive.

Something that a pair of violet eyes watching the new couple was rather envious of.

*****************************