The Ninja King. Chapter 10: New Friends.
(Note: Yes, I know that Asuma, Choji, Ino, Kurenai, and Shikamaru live Konoha with Naruto and the rest of the Leaf Ninja, but if Naruto ended up staying with them in Konoha, then he would have been killed by Orochimaru in the story. So, I decided to have Asuma, Choji, Ino, Kurenai, and Shikamaru live in Kusagakure (The Land Of Grass). Also, when I casted Shikamaru and Choji as Timon and Pumbaa, I couldn't picture Choji and Shikamaru without Asuma, Ino, and Kurenai, so I added them to the story. Hope you enjoy the chapter.)
After a heartbroken Naruto left Konoha for good, he wandered aimlessly about for 3 days until he began to feel dehydrated and collapsed in a field of grass.
Later that day...
Meanwhile, not too far from where Naruto was, three people were out training in the field. One was a girl named Ino, and the other two people in the group were two boys named Choji and Shikamaru. The three of them were practicing for the upcoming Chunin Exams that would take place in Konoha. Anyway, back to the story.
After they stopped training, Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru were panting and collapsed in the grass, gasping for air.
"So... hungry...," Choji moaned.
"Is food all you ever think about, Choji?" Ino asked with anime bulging white eyes.
"Ino! You know I get hungry after a training session!" Choji cried.
Shikamaru got up and told Ino and Choji:
"Come on. Let's go back to the village."
"Okay," Ino and Choji answered in unison.
As Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino started walking, all of a sudden, Shikamaru stopped walking.
"Shikamaru? Why did we stop walking?" Ino wondered.
Somewhere in the distance, Shikamaru saw a body with an orange jumpsuit. He ran to where the body's location was, with Ino and Choji following close behind.
Once the trio stopped at where the body was, they were flabbergasted.
"Oh my god," Ino whispered.
"It's a boy," Choji spoke.
"Ino, when we get back to the house, I need you to give this boy medical attention right away!" Shikamaru demanded.
"Right!" Ino responded as Shikamaru carried the unconscious Naruto on his shoulder and went back to the house.
When Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru returned to their home, they immediately told Asuma and Kurenai about Naruto. Asuma carried Naruto to a guest room in their house, and put Naruto on the bed. Ino started healing Naruto while waiting for him to wake up.
Then, a few moments later, Naruto woke up.
"Look! He's coming to!" Ino exclaimed.
Naruto looked carefully at his surroundings.
"Where am I?" Naruto asked.
"You're in our house, and you're in Kusagakure, the Land Of Grass. Tell us. What's your name, little boy?" Asuma questioned Naruto as Naruto got up.
"Naruto," answered Naruto.
"I see. I'm Asuma, and this is my wife, Kurenai, and our three children, Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru," Asuma said introducing his family.
"Choji, Shikamaru and I were the ones who saved you, Naruto. We thought you were dead," Ino worried.
"Thanks for your help," Naruto uttered, sadly as he got out of bed, and went on the kitchen patio, sat down, crossed his arms, and put his chin on top of them.
Kurenai went outside to comfort Naruto and sat next to him on the bench.
"Hey. What's wrong, Naruto?" Kurenai asked, concerned.
"Nothing," Naruto lied.
"Come on, tell me," Kurenai answered.
"Well, I did something terrible, but I don't want to talk about it," Naruto replied.
"Oh. Okay then. You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. But for now, until we find out where you came from, you're going to stay here with us, okay?" Kurenai quizzed.
"Okay," Naruto answered. Kurenai went back inside the house, and closed the kitchen patio.
Later that night...
Naruto was getting ready for bed. He climbed into bed, and looked at his Leaf village headband, still feeling guilt over Minato's death. The haunting words that Orochimaru spoke to Naruto echoed within his mind:
"Run away, Naruto, and never return."
Tears fell from Naruto's eyes as he laid his head on his pillow, and quietly cried, while remembering the times that he and Minato had before he died.
~ End of Chapter 10 ~