Alright here's the next chapter of the Runaway chronicles. Hope ya like it! This one's gonna be a bit longer, hopefully around 4000 words, I'm gonna try to raise my chapter lengths a bit between 1500-2500 and from there I can start to go higher as I get back into the swing of things. Let me know what you think.

Naruto: The Runaway Chronicles

Chapter 21

Kushina stared at the young dark haired girl as they walked. Ami Uchiha, daughter of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, sibling to Sasuke and Itachi. Fugaku and Mikoto had been her friends, Minato too, this girl acted nothing like either of them. She was loud and rambunctious, but incredibly friendly. Her own children were really hitting it off with her. Kushina liked the young girl, she was so much like Kushina was when she was little, though she had something that Kushina never did. Ami always held this glow to her, even now, thrust back into the world after eight years away from it. Even traveling with strange people away from her home to a far away place, Ami was all smiles. She was a chatter box, talking to all of her children, herself, and her husband, constantly.

Kushina wondered as the moved ever closer to their destination, was this what Naruto was like? Was he a happy and talkative boy? Did he smile a lot and joke? She doubted it. She knew of the life of a Jinchuriki, she understood the pain of that stigma. She may have had it better then most, since no one knew she was Jinchuriki but she had heard the demons whisperings, she had felt it's malicious chakra, coarse through her body, every time she birthed a child. She knew it wanted nothing more then to escape and slaughter them all.

Minato was silent most of the trip. He was busy wondering what kind of man his son had grown into. That's what Naruto was, he may have been born from his and Kushina's clones, but he was still their child, he held their dna, their chakra. He wanted to meet the boy, to get to know him and learn of his life. He knew the boy would probably be confused, and angry. He'd probably hate them. Minato just hoped that at least he would give his siblings at chance. Ever since they were told about the situation all three of them had been eager to meet their older brother. Minato just prayed that Naruto would at least give them a chance to make this right.

Minato was also busy considering Naruto's marriage to the Hiyoto family. He remembered Daso, a strong and talented warrior. And also a cunning one. He wondered what his daughter was like, if she was like him or more like her mother. He truly hoped this didn't become a huge problem.

Ami meanwhile just continued to talk and talk, what none of her traveling companions realized was that the talking was a nervous habit. She was incredibly nervous to see Naruto again, her other friends barely remembered her. She understood, it was a long time ago, and things back then weren't easy. She was happy they had moved on, even if it was without her. But from what the Hokage had said, Naruto hadn't moved on. It sounded like he was angry, and sad. That made Ami nervous. Would Naruto be happy to see her? Would he be angry that she was gone so long? It made her worry.

So she just continued to talk. She just kept talking, to fill the air with noise. If she was talking then her mind wasn't on the upcoming meeting with her best friend. But before she knew it, their party was approaching a village.

As they approached Ami began to take note of the beautiful meadows that surrounded the city, she sure was looking forward to exploring them and the surrounding forests. She had never been outside of the Leaf before, and so she was really eager to see the different places of the world.

It took a few minutes and Ami's nerves began to fray again. She knew that Naruto was close by, this was were he lived, which meant she would be meeting with him soon. She really hoped he wasn't mad.

While Kushina and the children kept their eyes peeled as they walked through the village, Minato was at ease. There may be ninja here, but it wasn't a ninja village, and they were very obvious as to their intended destination. They were walking down the main street, right towards the palace. Any ninja or guards that might be following them, knew they were on their way to present themselves to the Feudal lord, or lady in this case.

-Meanwhile-

Naruto tossed a kunai forward and flashed through handsigns. "Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!" With those words the single Kunai split into roughly five hundred, they bombarded the trees in front of him. The attack was wide spread but there were so many kunai, that even if it wasn't overly accurate, there wasn't much of a chance of someone escaping unharmed.

Nayumi meanwhile stood a few yards off, practicing her kata's. She was busy trying to make sure that her skills didn't diminish. Ever since she became the Feudal lady of this province, she had been glued to a desk for ten hours a day. She knew if she didn't practice, her skills would begin to diminish and she really didn't want that. Especially after seeing Naruto's skills continue to grow.

"Lady Hiyoto! Two Leaf Anbu have been spotted leading a group of children towards the palace. They seem to be on their way to present themselves to you." One of Nayumi's guards informed her.

"Really? Leaf Anbu you say? Well… Come on Naruto." She shouted at the Blonde.

"Why do I have to be there?" Naruto whined. He hated being in meetings and standing at Nayumi's side while she dealt with all of the Feudal lord bullshit, like listening to peoples problems and meeting foreign dignitaries.

"Because they're from the Leaf. I can only think of one reason why Leaf ninja would come to Aski." Nayumi replied giving him a bemused look.

"Fine..." Naruto said with a sigh as he turned to follow her.

-A Few Moments Later-

Ami was utterly amazed. This palace was huge! She couldn't ever imagine living in a place like this. Her eyes were filled with wonder as the blonde Anbu lead them towards the main hall. They were being flanked by several guards whom had met them at the front door, and were now guiding them along.

"Are you excited!" Kushina asked as they walked.

"Yeah… I've missed Naruto a lot. He was my best friend when we were little. I hope he's not mad at me for being gone so long." Ami replied, suddenly getting very shy. In a few moments she would meet her old friend. The boy who had become like a brother to her.

They were led through another set of doors into a large open chamber. This was the Hiyoto families great hall. It was beautifully furnished and there were several servants busying themselves with work. Ami's eyes were drawn to the other end of the room, where a dark haired girl was sitting on a throne that sat several steps higher then the rest of the room. Standing by her side was her old friend Naruto.

Ami felt her jaw drop, he had truly changed from that scrawny little boy he used to be. He was tall and muscular. His hair was the same wild blonde as it used to be. His body was draped in a dark green cloak, that hid what he was wearing beneath it. Though the biggest change was his eyes. While still blue, they were now a piercing color, and they were locked on the two Anbu that led them forward.

Their party stopped a few feet from where the Feudal Lord sat, and the two Anbu both immediately bowed, along with the other children in her party. They had obviously met with people of this station before. Ami was a bit surprised by the action but quickly followed suite, but her hesitation was noted, and it immediately drew the gaze of a tall muscled guard that stood on the opposite side of the Feudal Lady from Naruto. Naruto's gaze also fell on her when he noticed her reaction.

'She looks familiar.' Naruto thought as he stared at the dark colored hair of the girl.

"Hey… Kit! I feel my chakra in the woman…" The Fox suddenly stated.

Naruto's eyes snapped onto the female Anbu, and a kunai immediately appeared in his hand. However his hands were hidden beneath the cloak, so no one noticed.

"It isn't often we get Leaf ninja in Aski… why have you come? Is your Hokage taking me up on my offer of sanctuary, for her weary ninja?" Nayumi inquired.

"My Lady Hiyoto, the Hokage has sent us to protect an old friend of your husbands. We are her bodyguards." Minato replied from beneath the mask. He stayed in a kneeling position but had raised his head to look at Nayumi. She looked startlingly like her mother, but he could see some of Daso's traits in her. He could also sense the Bloody Boar nearby, he was probably heading towards this room right now.

"Who is she?" Nayumi asked as she looked at Naruto. She noticed him glaring at the Anbu whom was still quiet. She noticed the Anbu staring right back at him.

"Naruto?" Nayumi asked.

Naruto tore his eyes off the Anbu and looked at his wife. She then motioned towards the dark haired girl whom was now staring up at him. Naruto looked down at the girl, his eyes focused and calculating. The girl stared back at him, her eyes scanning him, taking in all of his features, studying him, in depth.

"You look familiar to me. Who are you?" Naruto finally asked.

"Uh… I guess I do look a lot different then when we were kids… Um… It's been about eight years, but… I'd hoped you still remembered me." Ami replied nervously. Her eyes were locked on his chest, unable to meet his gaze. She was so nervous, and his cold stare was doing nothing to improve her fear.

"Eight years? Sorry, but the Leaf sealed my memories of a lot that happened when I was eight. Your gonna have to be specific." Naruto informed them.

"They did what?" The quiet Anbu shouted with rage, surprising Nayumi and Naruto.

"Do I know you, as well? Naruto asked, taking note of the concern and anger in her voice.

"Please… reunite with your friend first. You two have been away from each other for so long." Minato stated before his wife could reply.

"Who is she?" Naruto asked as his eyes returned to Ami. She still wouldn't meet his gaze and it was beginning to bug him.

"Lady Tsunade asked us to deliver a message." Kushina stated.

Hearing her voice in a calm tone, Naruto heard the Fox begin to mutter, 'No, no, no, no, no…'

"And what is it?" Nayumi inquired.

"She said that she was sorry. Danzo had been keeping her alive, but she was in a coma… she was just able to wake her up." Kushina replied.

"Keeping her alive? Eight year? But…." Naruto said aloud before he stopped and his eyes snapped towards Ami. Instead of the cold glare she was getting before, Naruto's eyes were now as wide as saucers.

He took a step towards her and Ami finally raised her gaze to meet his. He continued to walk towards her, all the while his face frozen into an expression of shock.

Nayumi watched with surprise as her husband seemed to finally remember the girl. She watched him as he approached the girl, but her eyes quickly drifted to the other children. Her heart stopped as she recognized them all. These were the children from the picture in the Yondaime Hokage's home.

Naruto continued to walk towards Ami, until had was literally face to face with her. His eyes were locked with Ami's his surprise was completely evident on his face.

Ami felt a bit of her courage return and so she smiled, "Hi Naruto… how are ya?" Ami asked.

Naruto reached out and touched her cheek, a tear slid down his cheek as he muttered out one word, "Ami?"

Ami's smile grew as she nodded.

"Uh… Kit… we have a serious problem… Kit? Kit? Did you die? Kit?" The Fox began to ask as Naruto froze, and then… he fainted.

"Ah! Naruto!" Ami shouted as he just collapsed. The guards quickly rushed forward to check on him, all the while Ami tried to lift him back up, but he was dead weight now.

"You're the kids from the picture in the Yondaime's house." Nayumi noted, not even noticing Naruto and Ami's episode.

The eldest child simply smiled and nodded.

"And that would make you two…?" Nayumi stated slowly as she pointed at the two Anbu.

The two Anbu shared a look before shrugging and removing their masks.

Nayumi stared into the faces of Konoha's Red Death and the fourth Hokage. She then nodded, and then promptly fainted as well.

"Lady Nayumi!" Her Guard captain shouted as he noticed her slump in her chair.

"Good goin' mom, pops." The eldest of their children muttered as the two cringed.

"Well, well, well… Either that third serving of Beef killed me… or Two zombies have found their way into Aski." Came the booming voice of Daso Hiyoto.

"Long time no see Daso." Minato greeted with a smile.

"No… you don't just get to start there. Why aren't you dead!?" Daso shouted at him as he walked up to the two.

"Uh… It's a long story..." Minato answered.

"I've got time." Daso replied as he crossed his arms, his eyes flickered briefly to his guards as they tended to Nayumi and Naruto.

"We'll explain… we promise… please, let's just wait for Naruto to wake up though. This will all go a lot faster if we only have to do this once." Kushina stated as she watched one of the guards dump a bucket of water on Naruto's head, forcing him awake.

"Gah! Fuck! I had the craziest dream." Naruto shouted as he shook his head and rubbed the water from his eyes.

"Was I in it?" Ami inquired.

"Eh…. Shit… that wasn't a dream." Naruto noted as he shot back to his feet and stared wide eyed at his old friend.

"When did you start cursing like this, you never used to curse… I was the one with the potty mouth remember?" Ami asked eying him with curiosity. She was just trying to play things cool, just make conversation with him, that wasn't so hard.

"Eh…. I got it from you." Naruto mumbled in reply as his eyes scanned his old friend for probably the tenth time.

"Oh… uh sorry…." Ami said with a nervous chuckle as she scratched her head and smiled. That smile was what really sealed it for Naruto. He recognized it clear as day, that was the smile of his old friend, Ami.

"Ami… it's really you… how? How are you alive?" Naruto asked as he took a step closer to her.

"Um… I was in a coma… the Hokage lady revived me. I can still barely believe that. I was supposed to be the first female Hokage." Ami replied, adding a cute little pout there at the end.

Naruto just stared dumbly at her for several moments before he burst out into laughter. It wasn't fearful or manic laughter, but pure and simplistic.

"I can't believe this… I've missed you for so long… I thought you were dead..." Naruto told her as tears began to slide down his cheeks.

"Hey… no need to cry… I'm sure you missed me a bunch, but there's no need to cry… big strong boys like you shouldn't be crying like little girls..." Ami tried teasing him, but it was only to comically try and hide her own crying, as Naruto and her basically made the same face, as they struggled not to burst into wailing sobs.

Before she knew what hit her, Ami felt herself enter his embrace. She had hugged Naruto before but this was different, he felt warm, and strong, he wasn't the same scrawny little boy he used to be. Ami wrapped her arms around him and smiled brightly, allowing the tears to freely flow from her eyes.

"I've missed you so much, ya know… it's been so hard… you were my best friend… I loved you so much… when I lost you that day, my whole world shattered to pieces." Naruto admitted as he wrapped his arms around her tighter. She had zero figure to her, she was just skin and bones and Naruto could feel it.

"I missed you two, Naruto… I dreamed about you a lot… and I'm so sorry I left you alone all those years… I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." Ami told him.

The two were silent for several moments before Ami spoke up again, "You're not mad at me, are you?"

"How can I be? You're here. I've missed you so much, this is like a dream come true." Naruto replied, as he pulled back from the hug and locked eyes with his old friend.

"Lord Naruto… Lady Nayumi isn't waking up, she's not responding to us." One of the guards called over with worry.

Naruto glanced back and saw that Nayumi was passed out in her throne. He wondered briefly what had happened to her, before shaking it off. He was more focused on Ami, and how she was here, and whether or not he would awaken from this possible dream.

"Hey Yumi, I can see you boobies!" Naruto shouted in a singsong voice.

"Pervert!" Nayumi shot awake and shouted at him, instinctively covering her chest and grabbing the nearest things she could to the throw at him, which just so happen to be senbon she had been playing with.

It struck Naruto in the shoulder blade and he screeched comically.

"Damn… are you ok?" Ami asked as she saw him tear up at the metal needle that was now sticking out of his back.

"Yeah… I'm good… shoulda' seen that coming." Naruto whined.

"Hey… Kit… happy for your reunion and all, but can you come down here for a second?" The Fox ordered.

"What is it?" Naruto asked as he entered his mind scape.

The Fox just pointed behind him.

Naruto spun around and saw the female Anbu standing there. She tilted her head, curiously and offered a little wave of greeting.

"What is she doing here?" Naruto asked with confusion.

"He's probably the answer." The fox replied, with a bit of trepidation.

"He?" Naruto asked, with even more confusion, but then his eyes settled on a massive figure behind the woman, it came into focus and Naruto saw the visage of the nine tailed fox, chained and staked to a moon.

"HEY GUYS! WHAT'S UP!" The second Nine tails asked angrily.

"Um… Fox… what the hell?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"I have no idea. But that person… that woman… it's Kushina, I'd recognize that chakra of hers anywhere." Naruto's fox replied.

"He's not wrong." Kushina admitted as she removed her mask.

Naruto stared at her for a moment… then another. Then he nodded, and promptly feinted again.

"What! Dammit!" Kushina shouted, hoping that this time he wouldn't have feinted.

Kushina stared at Naruto's unconscious form for several seconds before glancing up at Naruto's fox whom was staring down at her.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Kushina inquired.

"Get Out." The Fox ordered, and Kushina quickly faded from Naruto's mindscape.

"Naruto feinted again… what happened to him?' Ami asked as she clutched Naruto's unconscious form. He had just been speaking to her when suddenly he got quiet and then feinted again.

"I think that might've been my fault..." Kushina stated with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh boy..." Minato said with a sigh as he hung his head.

"Am I going to get that explanation, any time soon?" Daso inquired impatiently.

"Um… yeah…" Minato replied.

"Dinner is ready." Came Ayane's shout as she entered the room.

"We're busy dear." Daso replied, he then let out a howl of pain as Ayane planted her foot in his back.

"I said dinner is ready. You all can join us if you wish. Come along, Nayumi dear, and bring Naruto with." Ayane ordered as she turned and headed off towards the dining hall.

"Wife's still as scary as ever." Minato noted.

"Yeah… no kidding." Daso grumbled.

There was silence in the room for several moments, before Nayumi moved to Ami's side and helped her carry the unconscious Naruto out of the room. The others quickly followed not wanting to anger the Hiyoto matriarch.

"This is not going how I expected." Kushina noted.

"Well, it's going pretty much how I thought it would. Honestly I expected worse." Minato replied with a smile.

"You and your moods… nothing ever gets you down." Kushina deadpanned.

"Well… he only feinted… it could have been much worse… no jutsu have been thrown around yet. But maybe next time, don't link your mindscapes and commune telepathically with someone you just met, son or not." Minato replied.

"Sorry..." Kushina grumbled as they followed Nayumi, Ami, and the unconscious Naruto.

Meanwhile all of the children were wondering the same thing… how could this get any more amusing.

Everyone quickly entered the dining hall and sat around the table.

"Please, everyone, eat up. We'll talk once our meal if finished." Ayane stated then shot a menacing glare at Daso, whom flinched in reply, and quickly focused on his plate.

"She's scary." Ami noted.

"Reminds me of Kushina." Minato stated, absentmindedly.

A loud thwack echoes through the hall, as Kushina delivered her rebuttal, all the while, everyone was tense, they all knew things would be getting loud… the only question was how loud.

-To be continued-

Alright here you go, getting a bit longer again, going to try working up from here. Hope you enjoy, I've got everyone together now, and I've gotten over the shock part, the real emotion will be pouring out next chapter. JA NE!