The Long Journey

So So So So Sorry for the late update. Been so focused on other stories, new ideas and life in general. Here's an update!

Chapter 14

This smell. It was a familiar smell to him. As the blood was pumping in his ears. Muscles tensed. Eyes zoned in on threats and allies. Fire spreading in front of him, cutting off the retreat of the enemy. Good. They were using a pike formation, one that he had seen employed by the militia back in Konoha. When The Aktasuki had started pillaging vassal villages, so the Militia were formed. Nothing too militaristic, but they could certainly delay the Shinobi. They stood side by side with pikes, spears, and anything else they could make, out in front of them.

It was hard, as a shinobi, to engage into this with just Taijutsu, so most of the time they used Ninjutsu and Genjutsu to fight the Militia. But once they did that, the tags given to them, courtesy of Sai and Himself, would activate, allowing Shinobi to transport there using a summon. Surprisingly, Hanabi was the one who had come up with this system. Konohamru had been on Duty, trying to stop the Akatsuki from attacking the villages, and was frustrated by not getting in their time. Hanabi, seeing her boyfriend in distress, decided to come up with a solution.

Naruto smiled as he remembered. Hinata had come into his tent, with Hanabi. Hanabi shoved sheets of paper in her hand, and told him to 'Look it over and present it to Tsunade.' Hinata was a bit aghast at Hanabi's lack of respect or bluntness. And Hanabi said that she had to be blunt to get him to understand anything.

"Look how long it took for him to Ask you out!" Hanabi grumbled as she brushed her bangs out from her face. She looked away slightly.

It was a good thing she did, because she didn't see Naruto and Hinata blush furiously at remembering their missteps.

Naruto ducked under a blade, aiming to take off his head. He slashed upwards with his Tonfa in retaliation, hitting the man's ribcage. The man flew upwards, a dent in his side. Not stopping his rotation, Naruto continued to spin while gathering wind chakra.

He spun and swiped out. A howl erupted from the hollow part of his Tonfa. The soldiers in front of him stiffen. Blood leaked out from their stomachs, and than they fell down, in half.

"By the gods. This fight will be easy by your side, Zhada!" A voice called out next to him.

Not recognizing the voice nor the name, Naruto paused to look. He saw an Urgal next to him, his horns and weapons bloody. He gave a smile to Naruto. "We have joined the fight to kill Galbatorix, The Rider and Nightstalker saw to our alliance."

Naruto raised his tonfa, as to show his acknowledgment. "To a good fight than." Naruto yelled back. He ducked under someone trying to stab him from behind. The man got a his ribcage crushed by a swift kick backwards.

"To a good fight!" The Urgal roared as he continued to push forward.

Naruto looked forward at the rest of the Empire's army. He saw many things. Fear. Anger. Pain. Despair. Hope. And everything in between. He saw the blood on the ground, the corpses on the floor. But mostly he saw the pikes, swords, and arrows lined up to greet him. Naruto charged forward, Tonfas held out either side. He let his chakra explode out of him. Letting it be converted wind chakra. It looked as if clouds were being formed in his wake. As the arrows and pikes tried to pierce him, the very air ripped the blades to shreds, as well as their holders. He ran forward, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

'Wow.' Eragon watched, slightly awed. His master was surely a force of nature. He plowed through the Empire's army, unstoppable, untouchable. One could simply follow his progress by watching the flailing bodies and screams of pain.

'Eragon' Saphira's voice chastised him. Even though she was scolding, still held an awe for what he was seeing, as well.

The Rider shook himself from his stupor and focused on the battle ahead. Moving his shoulders left and right, he created a circle pattern with his body, charging forward with each weave. It was something he had developed while sparring Naruto. The Shinobi would always punch him straight in the face if he charged straight ahead. Needless to say, Eragon learned how to make his movements a little more unpredictable.

He sliced clean through a shield and a man. And moved out of the way of a barrage of arrows. He grabbed one of the arrows, and stuck it into one of the soldiers nearby. Using the body as a shield, Eragon pushed forward, driving the body onto a group in front of them. They topped over at the weight. Eragon leaped forward and slashed quickly, severing throats and heads.

'We need to push forward to catch up to Sensei. Or he'll be surrounded.' Eragon thought, worry filling his thoughts.

'I know.' Saphira agreed. 'but, even still I don't think we need to worry'

Eragon nodded and focused on Saphira. The melded in their minds, thoughts slowly becoming interchangeable, one. Dancing through the line once more, they followed Naruto's wake, pushing forward alongside the Varden army. They made short work, albeit at a slower pace.

'The catapults' Eragon thought. They needed to be taken care of. The Empire's army were launching flaming barrels at them, the barrels contained oil which would light up and burn anyone caught near it. It was wrecking havoc on the back lines.

Eragon, in one motion, leaped up onto Saphira and strapped himself in. He closed his eyes and focused.

'Trianna' Eragon reached out for the Du Vrangr Gata.

'I am here' she replied.

'Tell everyone to focus on me. We need to break into the minds of the men controlling the catapults' Eragon jostled in his seat as he felt Saphira take to the skies.

'Trust me Trianna.' His body shook as Saphria let out a roar of flames, burning away a group of soldiers.

'Fine, it will be done.'

Naruto dashed under a blade and swung upwards. Though the Tonfa seemed to miss the soldier, the wind chakra cut through the man cleanly. 'Kid's been up there for a while. What is he doing?' Naruto thought as he took note of Eragon's Chakra. It was like a beacon compared to everyone else, well everyone else than the shinobi back at Varden's camp. It look like the shinobi were waiting for him to finish, how kind of them.

'I'll extend them-' Naruto punched swiftly. A man flew backward, his face crushed inward. 'The same courtesy.'

Naruto ducked as a spear tried to pierce his head. He was about to kill his attacker but he didn't have to. The man's head was clean off before he even got there.

"Taking your sweet time? I thought you were better than this." A voice teased him.

Naruto stood back to back with his helper as he smirked. "Well Angela, I'm surprised you even got close to me. Or rather it took you this long."

Naruto deflected a sword and kicked. A soldier tumbled backwards into another group, toppling all of them.

"Did old age catch up to you?" Naruto teased.

"Bah!" Angela grunted as she spun around, her weapon glittered in the air dangerously, blood flew with it. "trying to walk over all the bodies you've been leaving has been slowing me down."

Naruto shook his head in amusement and continued on. He spun around to move forward, but saw something interesting at the bay. 'What the-'

He was distracted as suddenly the catapults in the empire's army exploded. The flaming barrels on them were broken open by the soldiers themselves.

'Did he take control?' Naruto thought. A smirk found its way onto his face. The boy was creative, very good.

"Eragon." Naruto shouted, his voice amplified by chakra.

'What is Shishou?' Eragon's voice entered his mind. He felt the link between Eragan and him. It felt weird like an actual tether connected them.

'There is a boat approaching. Deal with it if it is the Empire's. Good work on the catapult.'

Eragon smiled as he felt a wave of pride fill him. 'Let's go Saphira!'

His partner roared in the air as she turned towards the boat.

Naruto watched as Saphira flew away towards the boat. 'Good, He doesn't have to see this.' Naruto turned back to Angela, who was holding off five soldiers at once. Naruto grabbed her shoulder and pulled on his chakra.

A yellow flash surrounded them.

"Naruto!" A voice called out in surprise.

"Just me and Angela, Murgath." Naruto replied, his eyes still focused on the two armies clashing. He had done quite a bit. Half the Empire's army were crumpling, the other half too preoccupied with the Varden's soldiers. At this rate, they would win the battle within two hours. But...

'There is still the rider. I have to worry about that rider.' Naruto placed his hands in his most familiar technique.

Three kage bunshins appeared and immediately went down to collect sage Chakra.

"Why did you bring me back as well." Angela asked, while staring at his clones.

"I need you and Murgath to coordinate a line of Archers and Spell casters. Tell them to create separation between the armies." Naruto scanned the lines between the two armies. Pulling back would be fine. The Empire's army were too scattered and to thin. Regrouping would not matter, they had lost too much, their moral must be low. Also, his own push had some downside.

'If we push anymore, there will be a chance of being cut off. Better to retreat now.'

Sighing once, Naruto stretched his limbs. This was not like fighting in the elemental countries. Normally, he could rely on one of his squad to cover their sides, but it was just him. He could not use any shadow clones, because he still had to wait for the rider to appear. Wait. Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. He felt a large group, no... An army approaching them. Naruto smiled as he felt something familiar amongst them.

"Murgath." Naruto called out. His clones should be close to filling up on sage energy.

"Yes?" Murgath replied. Angela had run off to inform Nausada.

"How many of them came?" He asked quietly. Naruto turned to face Murgath, to look him in the eyes.

Murgath's eyes did not hold confusion, surprise yes, but no confusion. Murgath almost looked ashamed, as if he had betrayed Naruto. But Naruto didn't mind. The people after him, probably didn't give Murgath a choice.

"I don't know their actual number. Put more than eight. I can tell you that. If you want to..." Murgath swallowed. "If you want to run, we can just tell them that you-"

Naruto let out a hearty laugh. "Leave? Why would I do that? No, I just wanted to know how many they sent after me, so I don't have to go hunting too much." Naruto smirked as he turned back to the army. "I'll see you at the end of this." Naruto saw Eragon flying back now, he hadn't dealt with the ship. Allies than?

"AN ARMY TO THE RIGHT!" someone shouted. Naruto turned to see. He had felt a large group approaching, but they had a familiar presence.

Hrothgar, on a steed, was at the front, raising his warhammer.

The Varden's army cheered, as they retreated backwards. Archers and Mages pelted the Empire's army, preventing them from advancing on the Varden.

'Good, everything is going well. Now all that is left is-' Naruto froze. The back hairs of his neck stood on end. He felt a vibration in his stomach. All his muscles tensed. Adrenaline pumped with renew vigor.

He felt... Thunder.

Naruto's eyes snapped up to the sky.

"What's wrong Naruto." Murgath said. But Naruto ignored him, in favor of gathering chakra in his hands quickly.

"He's here." Naruto whispered.

And than the battlefield grew quiet. Everyone stared at the sky, as thunder clouds gathered. Which was impossible, unless they were manipulated. Everyone stood in awe at the clouds swirled in the air.

And than, out of them A red dragon flew down. A rider on top of it. The rider was clad in black leather armor. Belt buckles held pieces together, which meant it was multifaceted suit. Parts of it were cut to allow for more maneuverability. The rider's sword was not of this land. It was one-sided, long, curved and glinted dangerously. But Naruto focused on what was behind the dark helm. The eyes. Just the eyes.

The Red eyes.

'Finally. He's here! We can finally kill him!' Every cell in his body cried out. Blood, he wanted his blood, to bathe in it. To Crush his heart between his hands, to see the light dim from his eyes. No. He'll take out the eyes first.

Naruto chuckled to himself quietly. A crackle could be heard from the clouds. The sky darkened and the sun itself seemed to shy in fear of the power being displayed.

'I need to kill! Kill! Must kill! Finally. After all this time' Naruto cackled as he the muscle in his body singed, singed for blood. A sudden image flashed in Naruto's head. A young boy with brown hair and brown eyes. A sword in hand, riding a dragon.

Protect him...

I was going to do that anyways

Kill Sasuke

Protect Eragon.

Goals. His goals. What he needed to do. Nothing else mattered. Protect. Kill. Protect by killing. Killing to protect. What he would do. Naruto grinned. Simple, so simple and yet it would be a challenge all the same. He would have to make sure Eragon didn't get away. The techniques he would use, they both would use, would be powerful.

Before Naruto could even speak to warn Eragon, One word cut through the silence.

"Kirin."

A thunder bolt Raced from the clouds and towards it's target. Eragon

And Naruto responded.

"RASENSHURIKEN!" Naruto threw it quickly, intercepting the Thunder bolt easily. The clashed and the space in between them seemed to bend. After a second of silence a huge shock wave erupted as everyone was blown back.

"HES HERE!" Naruto cheered. "ERAGON!" Naruto called out. The kyuubi's chakra leaking out of his body, surrounding him. The clones gathering sage chakra had dispersed, gathering it within himself.

"STAY OUT OF THIS FIGHT!" Naruto yelled. The Kyuubi chakra surrounded him. And Naruto crouched low staring at his target. Oh the irony was rich. It was too great. Two birds with one stone. How wonderful, Kami must have blessed him with this beautiful gift.

Sasuke was the Rider.

"Die!" Naruto whispered. And than he was gone.

Ergaon watched as Naruto disappeared from his spot on the ground. He had seen the red chakra envelop his master. 'The Kyuubi's chakra' he thought. He remembered Naruto's explanation.

Suddenly a crack was heard, almost as loud as the explosion from earlier. Naruto looked at the other rider and saw Naruto flying in the air, red chakra erupting from his body, swiping at the other rider.

It almost seemed one sided, but the other rider did something extraordinary. A skeleton, that looked to be other worldly, appeared around him and the dragon, blocking the red energy.

'We need to get back!' Saphira roared, flying backwards, away from the clashing titans.

Eragon stared in horror and awe as he saw his shishou stand in mid air, swiping at the rider.

'We have to help him somehow.' Eragon pleaded desperately with Saphira.

But he felt fear from Saphira, as well as from himself. 'That is something we should not interfere. This does not seem like a fight we can even help' Saphira replied mournfully.

Eragon stared at his master, fighting the other rider, his responsibility. Wait. His responsibility

he had to be a leader. He could not sit here and do nothing. He had to trust Naruto to take care of himself. He had to lead the Varden to victory. Eragon raised his sword and shouted as loud as he can.

"CHARGE! FOR THE VARDEN!"

The two Armies were jolted out of their reverie. The Dwarves and the Varden charged forward with renewed vigor. Eragon and Saphira rode down, wind whipping around them. Eragon screamed at the top of his lungs. His responsibility was to the people. Arya, Nausada, Naruto, Orik, Angela, and now his cousin Roran.

Duck. A voice called in his head. And Naruto listened. Ducking under a swipe form Susanoo. He had long learned to trust his inner voice against Sasuke. Naruto gathered chakra in his mouth and dashed forward. He was manipulating the air under him into solid platforms. Something he wouldn't even dream of doing without the Sage chakra.

Moving out of the way of another arrow, let loose courtesy of Susanoo Naruto returned with a bullet of his own. Roaring, Naruto let out a chakra stream of sharpened chakra. The ray raced towards Sasuke.

Sasuke held out his hand and thunder formed in it. Half a second later, a beam of thunder met Naruto's ray. The two techniques clashed in midair. Naruto, however, had anticipated that. He appeared behind Sasuke, Ultimate Rasengan in hand. Naruto roared as he punched downwards with it.

Sasuke turned his head slightly, and Naruto caught glimpse of the Tomoe swirling in his eyes.

'Shit' Naruto thought to himself. He pushed himself towards the right as he Susanoo's sword pierced the air next to him. 'Have to watch out for that.'

He stabilized himself by forcing a pad of air under his feet. He kept his eyes focused on Sasuke. He had said nothing this entire fight. Nothing but his techniques, not even a blasted greeting. Naruto chuckled quietly. "What's wrong Sasuke!" Naruto bellowed. "To Shy to talk? Come on!" Naruto lashed out, the Kyuubi's chakra forming a claw.

Sasuke's dragon nimbly flew upward, avoiding it. Naruto let the claw dissipate and the chakra return to him.

"SHISHOU!"

A voice jarred Naruto out of his fury. Protect! Naruto gritted his teeth, keeping his eyes on his goal, his enemy. Ignoring the voice. Protect him! Naruto clenched his fist and bit out.

"What are you doing here!? I told you to stay out of this."

A voice behind him. Naruto couldn't look. He didn't want Eragon to see him like this. He would fear. He would not understand.

"We are routing the army. I came to help. They Varden doesn't need anymo-"

"I SAID NOT TO INTERFERE!" Naruto growled out. Naruto turned around in anger. But he realized his mistake. His gut fell as he realized what he had just done. Eragon stared at him, eyes wide, filled fear.

Naruto turned around quickly. "Go" he whispered. "I did not want you to see me like this. It must be frightening." Many had told him that staring into his eyes, when he was using the Kyuubi's chakra, was seeing hell.

"But-" Eragon tried to speak. Naruto could hear in his voice. The pain. The fear. The reaction from seeing the monster he was right now. But he had to be a monster, he had to be in order to kill one.

Naruto ignored Eragon and stared at Sasuke. "BRING IT!" Naruto opened his out, forming chakra and roared. A chakra Beam erupted from his mouth and straight at Sasuke. Sasuke slashed with his sword and a chakra slash met his beam.

Wind ripped through the air. And Saphira was pushed back, away from the clash.

'Good they are out of the way' Naruto thought. 'Must finish him off' Naruto turned back to Sasuke, gathering Chakra in his hands.

"It seems you've taken on a student." A voice. Calm, collected, sinister. It was smooth as a kunai's blade, waiting to slit his throat.

Naruto growled.

"Oh? No words to say"

Naruto could imagine the damn smirk on the bastard's face. Sasuke raised his hand in the air, in a familiar pose, gathering chakra.

"Too bad." Sasuke continued. The tomoe's in his eyes spinning. Thunder clouds forming once more. "It's Another person you'll just lose"

Something snapped in him. Something so tangible and yet, so abstract to him. Something he had known all his life, and never really voiced. Naruto flew at Sasuke. The Red cloak enveloping him, reddening as sped forward.

Red eyes narrowed. And Naruto felt chakra spike above him. The thunder won't hurt him. Why!?

A stray thought passed his mind. Why would he use Kirin when it doesn't work on him, in this form?

Either way, he had to kill him. He would kill him and it would all be over. He would accomplish what he had come here to do. Naruto reached forward, ready to rip Sasuke's eye out.

Kill him. Finish him. Let Sasuke suffer for everything he had taken away.

Taken away. What Naruto had failed to protect. Protect. What he had sworn to protect.

Protect him. And for that second, that fraction of a second. Naruto realized what the lightning was being called for. Not him. Not to kill him. No.

It was to kill.

To kill what Naruto had sworn to protect.

'I have to kill Sasuke. To protect-' Naruto thought. "Eragon." Naruto whispered. A smile as the boy cheered at finishing a task. Sweat dripped down his face, as Naruto passed him water. The boy took it gratefully, Naruto watched, pride welling in his stomach. This was how it was to be a teacher. To watch your student grow. Naruto swore once more, and like every day he had taught the boy.

He would protect him.

Eragon.

But his goal was right in front of him. Begging to be killed. He could end it right-

The two thoughts raged in his head. Naruto felt his heart try and split. He would not have time to do both. He had to choose. A stray thought in his head. More like a memory. Something he had said so often. Something he had believed in. 'Protect my precious people'

Naruto disappeared in front of Sasuke, in a flash of yellow light.

Eragon watched as his master raced towards the enemy rider, thunder clouds gathering in the air.

The enemy rider called out once more. "Kirin!"

Eragon watched as thunder raced down from the sky. It was almost as if it was in slow motion. He saw it race towards him. And than, something appeared in front of him, arms wide as if to shield him. As if-

"NOOOOOO!" A cry escaped Eragon's voice.

Naruto's body convulsed as it as hit by the lightning. His master, now covered with burns, clothes smoking, and blood pouring out of him, hung in the air for a moment. And than fell like a rag doll. He fell past Eragon and sped towards the ground.

"Saphira!" He cried. His partner did not respond, already moving down to catch the shinobi. He felt tears run down his space as they flew after him. The other rider, Eragon checked was flying away quickly, leaving for now. Eragon turned back to his master\, still falling. Saphira swooped under Naruto, and Eragon grasped his master, letting him sit on his saddle.

"Master! Naruto Can you hear me." Eragon said in a whisper. He felt a pain his chest, eerily familiar to the time he had lost Brom. He did not want to lose anyone else. He didn't want to lose another mentor.

"E-Eragon.?" Naruto coughed. Blood spurted out.

"Just stay with me." Eragon said quickly. 'We need to get to the healers, Hurry!' Eragon placed his hand and focused on healing his master. Trying to pour magic into his master's burnt body.

"G-good" Naruto whispered, his voice so frail. "Barely made it in time."

Heavy breathing. Saphira had landed safely on the ground, people already running to meet them. Eragon gently moved off, holding Naruto in his hands.

"Eragon" Naruto called, his voice getting slightly stronger. But it was still soft, still weak.

"I'm here master." Eragon replied.

"I need you to set me down. I can regenerate my injuries. But I need space." Naruto spoke carefully, his body seemed to shake in an effort to speak.

"I can heal you. The healers can-"

"Eragon. Listen to me. Give me space" Naruto forced out, coughing out blood.

Swirling emotions in his stomach. He had just seen the man he thought to be invincible to be half dead. And how he was asking to step away! Eragon set Naruto gently down on the ground and stepped back.

He watched as his master forced himself into a sitting position. He watched as he shakily placed his hands on a seal, something he had learned from Naruto. With deep, slow breathing, Naruto closed his eyes.

Eragon watched as slowly, ever so slowly, chakra surrounded Naruto. The burn marks disappeared, the blood evaporated, and in a few moments his master looked as if he had never been struck by lightning. Eragon approached slowly, not knowing what to say. Awe, he definitely felt awe. Fear, fear from almost losing his master. And Gratefulness, so thankful that he had survived.

Naruto opened his eyes finally and stood up quietly. He was slow to move, obviously tired. They meet eyes. And Eragon saw something strange in them, sadness, remorse. Why?

"I-" Eragon began. His voice was wavering. He knew why Naruto had gotten hurt. "I am sorry." Eragon forced out. He looked down, too ashamed to look at Naruto. "I got in your way. That is why you were hurt-"

"NO!" Naruto stopped him. Eragon felt a hand on his shoulder. Another hand pushed up his chin, so that he looked once more into Naruto's eyes.

"You tried to help because that is in your Nature. You are Eragon. You want to help. Never lose that. Never lose that part of yourself." Naruto lowered his arms. A bitter smile on his face. "I lost that part of myself. And you-"

Naruto let out a breath. "You've helped me gain a tiny bit back." He said in a smile.

Naruto turned towards the skies, towards where the enemy rider had left. "He left didn't he. Ran away like a coward."

Eragon nodded, "Yes he did."

Naruto sighed. He walked a few paces off. Staring at the sky. He had been so close. Yet so far. He had almost, almost for a fraction of a second been to late. He had almost decided to let Eragon die. He was a monster. Naruto closed his eyes, his gut stabbing his heart.

How did it end up like this? Naruto looked at he pooling blood at his feet. The Cooling bodies around him in the sand. How did it end up this way? He was tired. Oh, so tired. The rage left him, the anger left him. He felt exhausted. The fighting. Che. The fighting didn't even phase him. He had fought longer, fought harder, had done thousands of more things than this. He watched the retreating army, and those that were surrendering. Galbitorix army was giving up, retreating for now. They had won the Battle in the Burning Plains. But, He. He had lost.

The situation was now complicated. He now had the evidence he needed... about himself. He could no longer control himself. No matter how he hard he tried to move on, no matter how much time had passed, his dark side would take over. It would swallow up his mind, blacken his heart, and he would ignore all else. Sooner or later, he would become what he always feared, a beast with no chance of salvation.

Naruto closed his eyes and sighed. He would have to prepare Eragon. Not to kill Galbitorix. Not to kill the Newest Rider. No. He would continue to prepare Eragon for what he had always intended when training the boy.

Eragon would Kill him.

Naruto looked back at his student. He had to tell him. Had to make him understand. "Eragon."

Eragon nodded, moving closer towards him.

"Do you remember what I said about monsters and Man?"

Another nod. "Yes, To put them down. That rider. Was he one?"

Naruto nodded slowly. "Yes, but that is one that I will put down."

Eragon nodded. "I will not be in your way than. I will help the Varden win versus the empire. Because that is my responsibility." He said solemnly, no wavering his voice.

Naruto smiled, pride once again filling his stomach. The boy had grown so much. Just enough.

"Than I need you to promise me something."

"What is it?" He asked.

"After I Kill that rider, Sasuke Uchiha." Naruto started. "If I cannot be saved. If I become a monster. Kill me."

Eragon stared at him. "I don't-"

"Eragon!" A voice called out from behind them. The people who had run after them had finally caught up. Eragon looked to the approaching voice. Naruto did not recognize him, but apparently Eragon knew him. His student obviously wanted to continue the conversation, but the newcomer obviously wouldn't have it.

The newcomer immediately walked over to Eragon and socked him.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at the exchange.

"A friend of yours?" Naruto asked.

Eragon sat up, from his fallen state. "Yes, Master. My cousin. Roran. But Master about the-"

"Another time." Naruto quickly replied before facing Eragon's cousin. He had shaggy brown hair, gray eyes, and a strong build. He was also growing a beard. "I am Eragon's mentor. Naruto."
Roran nodded towards him. "I am Roran. I am sorry you had to see that. But Eragon deserved it."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "By all means. Go ahead. I smack him around for his mistakes all the time."

Eragon flushed in harassment. And started to argue with his cousin. The four of them walked back to the camp. The two cousins argued back and forth, something about getting back Roran's wife, Katrina. Eragon was devastated at the news of his home. Naruto felt for the boy, having his home desolated, a terrible thought indeed. But as they walked, Naruto could not help but think that he was missing something, or at least forgetting something.

They arrived at the main tent, Nausada, Murgath and Arya inside.

Nausada smiled at the sight of them, bandages around her forehead bending slightly. "Good you are back, Eragon. And … Naruto" She paused, something in her eyes.

Eragon introduced his cousin, but Naruto was stuck on the Nausada's attitude. Or, Nasuada's and Murgath's attitude. They were nervous, why?

"Naruto." Nasuada addressed him.

"yes?"

Nasuada bit her lip. Yep, definitely nervous he thought to himself. "There is something you should see, outside. I-"

'Oh, there we go!' Naruto thought as he felt the prescences finally. He had been so tired, too distracted to pick up on them. But it seems they had made themselves known. Naruto shook his head, holding up a hand to stop Nasuada. "I know they are here. I will meet them outside."

"Master?" Eragon asked, his voice confused.

Naruto ignored him, instead walked outside the tent. The others behind him followed.

Naruto was greeted to a very familiar sight. White masks. Black cloaks, surrounding him.

Naruto smiled at them. Oh, they had waited for him. Waited till after the fight, so that he would be tired, beat up and very low on chakra. Silly them, they should have just confronted him earlier, would have made it easier.

The one directly in front of him stepped forward. "Uzumaki Naruto we have been searching for you for a very long time." He spoke in this Alagaesia's common language. Naruto isn't surprised, this guy always had the smarts to learn languages fast.

Naruto gave a bright, cheeky smile. "I'm honored. But I'm more impressed that you were able to convince your wife and well, her brother to let you go."

The Anbu reached for his mask. "When I told them it was for you Naruto, They let me go. You are very troublesome."

Naruto shrugged and scoffed. Like that was an excuse. "Probably just wanted to escape your wife for a while. But either way." Naruto smirked. "Good to see you too... Shikamaru."

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