I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 2 of Crushed

A/N Thanks for the reviews, guys! I want to story to be good, so I'd appreciate some ideas on it. Either email me at or just PM me! Also, if you want to make my idea in your own story, don't hesitate! Just email or PM me about that, and I'll leave the link to that story in one of my A/N. =)

Enjoy!

'I need to find a new life.. A new purpose." was his last thought before continuing to run wherever he pleased.

It was now dark. Naruto had been running for several hours, picking some edible berries now and then. The blackness of midnight gave the moon an eerie luminescent light combined with a light fog. If you stopped to look at it, it would be an amazing yet creepy sight. Naruto decided it would be best to take a break and get some shut-eye. Naruto thought, 'Since I don't have any comrades overlooking the area I'll test out my Kage Bunshin theory.' With that, he created two clones and let them gather sage chakra. He ordered, "Stay alert 'till I wake up, got it?"

The two clones, now having their eyelids getting redder and redder, nodded.

Naruto built a small bed by tearing up nearby grass and making a 3 inch pile. He covered the grass with a red cape that had black flames at the bottom, strikingly similiar to his father's. He plopped down on the makeshift bed, rolled around a bit, and had a final thought, 'I wonder what tomorrow has in store for me..'

~~~morning~~~

It was 6:30 AM. Naruto had lazily gotten out of bed, his feet and legs a bit sore. Luckily, there was a nearby stream where he drank some water and brushed his teeth. Naruto also ate some reserved edible berries from the previous day.

Naruto noticed that only one of his clones remained, he had not heard of a time limit for Kage Bunshins.

"Ano.. You can go now." he said to the remaining clone.

The clone nodded his head and dispersed.

'Well.. It's time to get going.' Naruto said to himself.

~~~Konoha~~~

Sakura had prepared a small memorial for Naruto. She had gathered a few people that hadn't hated him. There was a cute brunette by the name of Ayame, and her elderly father. They were the owners of Naruto's favorite little ramen stand. The other few people there were what was left of Konoha 12 and Gai's team.

Sakura was tightly grasping Naruto's headband in her hand while looking down at the ground. Lee had shed a few tears and mumbled, "This is not youthful." Once he heard the word 'youthful', Neji was staring at Lee with the 'I'm-gonna-rip-your-head-off-and-glue-it-to-my-wall' look, the same look he gave Gai when he wanted Team Gai to place their hands together and cheer something useless during the Gaara retrieval. Naruto's classmates didn't have much to say. They just kept glacing around the village, looking back at the chiseled stone now-and-then with this description on it:

"Uzumaki Naruto

Hero of Konoha

Keeper of the Kyuubi"

~~~Naruto, somewhere.~~~

The dank forest was finally ending. The exit was like a light at the end of a far horizon. Only much, much closer. Naruto leaped out of the forest and accidentally bumped in to a beautiful girl with pure auburn hair. The girl wore a pure blue outfit with fishnets going in a V-shape from the top and, at the bottom, extending from the thigh to a few inches above the knee. Her two most visible features are a big bust and the brick colored auburn hair that reached down to her ankles. The auburn girl's facial features included crimson red lipstick, hair covering one of her eyes, and an amazing smile that brightens up the day.

She had two bodyguards, a tall man easily reaching 6 feet and a boy with shark-like teeth no older than Naruto. Ao, the tall man, quickly screamed out, "Assassin! Chojuro protect Mizukage-sama!" Chojuro, the shark-toothed boy, quickly got in front of the beautiful auburn and gripped his dual sword, Hiramekarei, and waited for an attack from the apparent assassin.

Naruto, after getting up from the ground, sees the two strange figures preparing to engage him. Ao was about to call out an attack when the Mizukage appeared in front of him and scolded him saying, "Don't attack, you fool. This ninja is at least high Jonin level, easily Kage."

Naruto was still somewhat confused when Ao, using a load voice, asked him, "What village do you hail from, shinobi?" Naruto's reply was quite simple, he answered with a, "I have no village."

The enraged Ao was a tad annoyed with that answer and replied with a, "Everyone has a village! What's yours?!" Naruto sighed and answered with, "I am a fomer-Konoha shinobi."

Chojuro finally spoke up and asked "Why former?" Naruto didn't want questions about his past, the past he wishes to cleanse himself of. "I was banished for protecting it." Naruto's statement caused Ao, Chojuro, even the Mizukage herself to give him a quizzical look.

"You surely must have done something wrong." Ao replied with disbelief.

Naruto just shrugged this statement off and turned around, preparing to walk away. There was one problem. The dazzling auburn was in the way. She said, "Where do you think you're going?" Naruto wasn't really in a talkative mood, he just wanted to make a new purpose for himself. He mumbled, "I don't know.." The Mizukage had a little thought that made her lightly blush. "Why don't you join us?"

Now it was Naruto's turn to give her a quizzical look while Ao's jaw almost fell out of it's socket. Chojuro released the grip he had on his blade and had a somewhat blank expression.

'This could be my chance at a new life." Naruto thought. He had a grin on his face and answered her question by saying, "I can't refuse an offer from such a pretty girl."

Mizukage's blush slightly deepened. Ao, seemingly untrusting, said "Mizukage-sama.. We can't trust this man!" while pointing his finger at Naruto.

The 17 year old went somewhere into her mind thinking: "Can't.. trust.. a man"

She, obviously, misheard him, but he'd get the same response from her if she did indeed hear it.

She averted her gaze from Naruto and stared at Ao, he surely knew what was coming. The pretty auburn walked up to him, gave a dazzling smile, and said, "Shut up or I'll kill you." Naruto just sweatdropped at this. Ao backed off and went to stand behind Chojuro.

"Let's go." the partially annoyed Mizukage said.

"Hai" Ao and Chojuro said in unison, while Naruto just started walking behind them.

About half an hour passed. Nothing really happened. No one spoke. Chojuro decided to break the silence with a question for the mysterious blonde in the back. Turning his head, he said. "Ano..Ninja-kun.. Why do you have that red stuff around your eyelids and frog-like eyes?" the non-confident boy kept on rambling on with things like "I think it's a frog.. Or a toad.. Uh.. It's probably a toad.. I think."

"I am a sage, Chojuro." was the blonde teen's reply. The Mizukage suddenly stopped and turned her head around towards Naruto. Naruto said, "What's wrong, Mizu-chan?"

Ao quickly started screaming things about respect at Naruto regarding the 'chan' comment. Mizu-chan just lifted her hands towards Ao, signifying him to stop, she even left out the "I'll kill you" part.

"Toad sage? Like Jiraiya, the Gama Sannin?" The Mizukage asked the sage, she didn't even notice he called her 'chan'. Naruto nodded his head in response and, in a sad tone, said, "He was my sensei before Pein killed him."

"We heard in Kiri that a sage had defeated the leader of Akatsuki, isn't that true? Jiraiya is dead, so.." the Mizukage's eyes widened at the startling revelation. 'This boy defeated Pein?! How strong can he be?!' was the girl's thought.

"Correct. I defeated Pein. But, in the process.. I used my Bijuu's power and lost control. I was then deemed a threat. That's why I was banished." was the suddenly sad boy's solemn response.

Ao was extremely surprised by this; Chojuro, like Mizu-chan, understood it before they recieved the whiskered teen's confirmation.

"I see," Mizu-chan said and continued with, "which Bijuu do you possess?"

"The Kyuubi no Kitsune." Naruto sighed at the thought of these people not accepting him.

Naruto's statement was the last one for about an hour until Mizukage suddenly spoke up asking, "What's your name?" She said this without turning around or stopping.

Naruto thought for a few minutes about what name he'd use to answer her question.

"My name is," he hesitated, "Suppai Remon."

"Ah, I see.. I hope in time you'll open up to us and allow us to know your real name." the Mizukage said in a slightly sad voice.

"Don't worry, the time will come." he replied with a foxy grin.

Even if he wasn't as hyperactive and idiotic anymore, his foxy grin would always stay the same. "Ano.. Mizu-chan mind if we stop in the next town? I'd like to get a mask and some stuff.." Naruto asked wearily.

"I don't see why not." Mizu-chan turned her head and gave him one of her heartwarming smiles, a twist of mischievousness in it.

Naruto just quietly chuckled from this. Ao thought it would be best to keep his mouth shut and make his presence forgotten. Chojuro was still trying to decide whether Naruto's eyes resembled a frog's or a toad's.

"Say.. where are we going?" wondered the blonde teen.

End of Chapter 2!

EDIT - Updated and changed the blonde into auburn hair.

How was it? Review!

Okay, so this may've seemed a bit rushed. Sorry about that. I just wanted to make them meet already. In this, Naruto doesn't know about the meeting of the five Kages. I don't really know much about it, so I'll either have to extend this a bit or do some 'research'. Just kidding! =P [For those that don't know, it's what Jiraiya calls peeking at girls.] But, yeah. Info about the meeting would be appreciated. Also, the Japanese folk – 'Suppai Remon' does mean 'Sour Lemon' in English, right? Why did I give Naruto this name? Here's why - "As with the other shinobi associated with the Seven Swordsmen, Chojuro's name is derived from a fruit. Chojuro is an Asian pear, while Momochi, Hoshigaki, and Hozuki refer to peaches, dried persimmons, and winter cherries."

–Quoted from Naruto wikia.–


I'm most likely gonna have Naruto learn how to use a sword, I have a special one I thought of in mind, could use some ideas for it's abilities.

He'll also probably become a Swordsman of the Mist. Hence the name being derived from a fruit. I know the 'first' name sucks, I'll even change it if someone gives me a good replacement. Preferably Japanese WITH a meaning.

I tried to make the chapters longer, but for now, while I'm starting out, they'll most likely be short. But This is my 2nd update after posting yesterday! So, 4000 or so words isn't too bad in 2 days. Thanks, everyone!