Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy VII Remake

Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi

Final Fantasy VII Remake belongs to Square Enix

Beta: Godospartan the Kitsune

Author's note: "So before anything, I'm going to say this. This version of Naruto is NOT (I REPEAT, NOT) from the Canon. This Naruto is from a variation of Shoton of Konoha. But with having several differences compared from that Fic. If you don't read that story that's kewl, but if you want some references go check it out."

(M) Mature story

Chapter 1: Gaia: εγλ 0005

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

A long and deep gasp escaped his mouth as his lungs were sucking in as much oxygen as possible. Cognitive function soon had begun to react of which was met by intense pain and soreness throughout his body. From his nerves to his muscles, everything felt like burning needles ravaging his being.

Coughing, his eyes opened only to be shut once more by intense brightness. "I suggest taking it slow brat," who would have ever guessed hearing the voice of his surly vulpine partner would bring a sense of calm.

Feeling himself lying on dirt and rock, a twenty-two year old Naruto Uzumaki followed his partner and friend's advice. "Who the hell was that?" His voice sounded like sandpaper, like he had not spoken in centuries.

"We can deal with that once we know what exactly happened to us." The pain was finally ebbing away from the blond's body. His breathing while ragged was slightly more steady than it was. "Now try opening your eyes."

With a grunt, the blond's eyelids slowly opened as he saw a clear sky above him. "That…Can't be right?" Not where they had been when they had finally confronted him. His teeth gashed as he painfully sat up to find himself in a crater. The ground might as well been salt as it had dug into the numerous open wounds of his bare upper torso. His shirt having been torn apart from the ensuing battle to settle up an old debt; and avenged the death of his friend.

And then… She appeared…Those eyes and that smile of pure utter-

"Focus Naruto;" Kurama reproached as he heard his partner's thoughts. "Let's get out of this hole and figure what to do next."

Easier said than done as his body protested from even the slightest of movement. The blond hissed attempting to stand, which only ended with him falling onto his backside. Standing presently was no option for him. With agonizing and labored maneuvering he was able to be on his hands and knees. That alone sent a wave of exhaustion in his already tied form he gazed at the small trek he needed to climb out.

"Wish I had a soldier pill right now," He muttered as he had begun crawling. His fingers dug into the soil with a pained growl as he inched ever so slowly upwards. Once more his teeth gnashed in both exhaustion and discomfort with sweat beading off his forehead. "I am not about to die in some fucking hole," the blond snarled out

His muscles protested with every action but he ignored them as he reached the top of the crater. What came to his vision made his eyes widen considerably. Stretched out before him was a barren mountainous region. Nothing but mountains and cliffs mixed with desolate open areas.

And there was no place in the blond Uzumaki's mind that resembled anything like this. "Where are we Kurama?"

His Bijuu did not respond, because was just as lost.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The sun glared high in skies, baking the ground below with unforgiving heat. Sweat dripped from Naruto's face as he dragged his feet forward. Even in the shade, it was freaking hot! Still, what relief he got he took as he moved forward.

His destination, he had zero clues.

Never mind the fact he was running on sheer exhaustion. Even while Kurama's chakra mended his more grievous wounds, the rest were still quite a horrid sight to anyone sane. Having no water or food at present definitely did not help his situation in any way. And by the looks of it, there was no water or animal to hunt anywhere.

Sitting on a small boulder his eyes gaze out from his momentary shaded safe haven. "Something…Feels off here."

"Bout time you noticed too." Naruto turned his head to the sight of Kurama appearing in front of him being the size of a large dog. "We have roamed this wasteland for an hour. But what is missing?" He gave a question to his partner.

The blond gazed back out; "I don't feel any life here."

"Exactly, even a desert has some form of life about it." The kitsune shifted his head; "But there is nothing…"

As a sage, his senses had become fully in tuned with the ebb and flow of nature. Naruto could feel the lifeforce from rocks to even a blade of grass. But no grass could be seen or felt for miles. And all the stones around him and Kurama felt…dead.

"This place is…Wrong…" Naruto muttered in partial exhaustion.

Kurama glanced over at him; "Think you're up for more walking?"

"Better than staying here and dying" The blond hissed as he got back to his feet; "There has to be something around here."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

At first he thought it was a mirage, or he was going insane from the heat and seeing things. But sure enough, there was a structure off in the distance. The closer he got, the bigger it grew, and grew, and grew. A city in the middle of nowhere? Moreover, the sheer size of it was utterly massive.

The more he drew closer, the more he saw a towering wall of pure cement. And far above that, a giant plate? His feet dragged on the ground as he felt his energy draining more and more. His breathing was ragged nearing the enormous wall. And perhaps whoever built this ridiculous plate should be aware of the structural cracks in it. Big enough for people or animals (if there were any) to get in.

Not looking a gift horse in the mouth the blond stumbled through the crack in the wall. What greeted him on the other side were mountains of scrap metal, old ruined buildings, and houses made of whatever someone could find. A shanty town in every way one could describe.

His breathing had grown more labored. Nearly stumbling with his vision growing from dark to light. The last thing he recalled was his strength fading and hitting the ground at the steps of a church. The sound of its doors opened before darkness took him.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"You think he will ever wake up?"

"He looked like he had just fought five Behemoths dummy! How is he even alive?!"

It was the voices of children that stirred him from the void. But it sounded muffled and echoed with reverberation as if his ears were plugged up by something. By gods did he feel sore as hell; was he lying on a bed? The damn thing was lumpy as hell. A loud gasp came from one of the kids; "He's waking up;" exclaimed the voice of a little girl.

"Hurry, go get the doctor!" the voice of a young boy came next. As he heard the shuffling of feet running away.

'Okay…We found people.' Naruto mentally mused before opening his eyes. Everything was blurry and unfocused for a moment before restoring itself. And found he was gazing up at a worn cement ceiling. That was a thought until turning his head to see the room he was in was about as makeshift as one could get. His cerulean blues took in every aspect of the room which he supposed to be a patient's room of a hospital. From the bed he laid on, a dresser (Which thankfully had his scrolls and katana lay on top of it), a chair, and other items in the room it all looked worn and old. The door to the room was ajar where the kids likely were at.

Still, the room was clean, but there was a glaring question; 'Where the hell are we?' A sore grunt came from the blond as he sat up despite his body's protest.

Kurama remained silent for a moment "Your guess is as good as mine."

Gazing at himself, the blond saw his upper torso shirtless, wearing a pair of stiff sweatpants, and heavily bandaged. Touching his head he felt bandages there as well. His cerulean orbs shifted as he heard footsteps coming; "Children, you have to calm yourselves! This is a hospital!" The aged voice of an older man spoke in a rushed tone.

"But that strange guy with the whiskers is waking up!"

Soon the door of his current room opened fully which Naruto was greeted by the sight of the two kids at his door earlier dressed in simple clothes. Following behind them was the doctor, if his long white coat over his suite wasn't a dead giveaway. The man looked in his forties with short black hair, stubble face, and glasses on.

"See he woke up!" the little girl cheered as she pointed to the blond who snorted.

"I can see that Emily, why don't you and Caleb head back to the Leaf House so I can check on my patient." He patted their heads.

The boy Caleb saluted; "Yes sir!" both children soon ran out of the room; "We should go tell Aerith and Kyrie!"

"Yeah!"

A long sigh escaped the doctor as he deadpanned before giving the blond a welcoming grin; "Sorry about that. Glad to see your awake young man."

"Same here doc;" Naruto grunted scratching his hair; "Where am I exactly?"

"Mercy Clinic. You have been unconscious for at least five days."

At that the blond gawked; "Five days!" he groaned sorely after exclaiming.

The doctor nodded as he strolled over to his patient. "Honestly, from all those wounds and dehydration it is amazing you survived at all."

"Count myself lucky I suppose," the blond chuckled weakly before coughing. "Got any water by chance?"

The doctor walked over to the shelf beside the bed where a pitcher and glass sat. Filling up the glass he handed it to the blond; "Drink it slowly." Giving a thumbs up the Uzumaki lifted the glass to his lips. He grimaced only slightly. "Sorry, even with the filters the water in the slums can be nasty."

"…Slums?"

How he said it got the doctor's attention; "The sector 5 slums of Midgar." His statement was met with a blank look from the blond; "Capitol of Gaia?" Once more there was no reaction, save confusion from his patient. "Hmm, the heat and your injuries might have caused some amnesia."

At that blond was about to protest till his partner was quick to speak up; "We could use that as an advantage to know where we are. Better to play along, kit."

Naruto let out a grunt scratching the back of his head; "Sorry doc, guess my head took quite the hit."

"Luckily you had no brain damage when I looked you over. Amnesia was the best thing compared to anything else." The doctor reasoned; "Let us see what you do remember. How about… Your name?"

"Naruto Uzumaki."

"Age and when you were born?"

"Twenty-two and was born October 10th."

The doctor gave a nod; "well we can be grateful you know who you are. My name is Isaac Cooper, but everyone in the slums calls me Doc." He paused for a moment; "Might I ask, do you recall how you got so badly hurt before you collapsed at the church?"

"Payback…For a late friend;" Naruto's voice grew quiet as he gazed up at the ceiling.

Doc Isaac gave a look of understanding; "I won't pry on personal matters."

"Thanks," Naruto nodded; "Uh, can I ask how I was brought here?"

"Ah, you were brought to the clinic by Aerith and Kyrie. Both dragged you back all the way here to the slums proper." Doc Isaac grinned; "Glad those two became friends again over whatever it was that got between them."

Filing that mental note the blond glanced to the dresser; "Take it my scrolls and sword were all that made it?"

"Indeed, your clothes were too badly torn up; Aerith looked for what she could for you." The older man paused; "Like to move around for a bit?" the blond nodded eagerly; "Let me look over your wounds and let's see from there. With those scrolls and that sword, gather you're from Wutai. A ninja?"

"Retired ninja, actually. Now just a Sage."

Surprised shone in the good doctor's eyes; "Really now. Hmm, interesting choice of professions young man." He leaned in with a guarded expression; "I recommend not announcing your former career in Midgar. Ceasefire or no, there are still tensions between your people and Shinra. And the residents here get on edge mentioning Wutai."

"Noted…" Naruto nodded back. Now he just had to figure out who the hell Shinra and Wutai were.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The blond Uzumaki groaned as he walked down the hall of the Clinic with sheathed katana in hand and scrolls in his sweat's pockets. Doc Isaac was more than a little shocked to find all of his patients' wounds had miraculously healed up. Naruto shrugging it off stating he was always a quick healer; which wasn't a complete lie. Putting on a plain t-shirt and his sandals after having the bandages removed, the good doctor directed him to the front door while he tended to his other patients.

Compared to most sterile and bland looking hospitals Naruto has been in, this one looked rather homey. From chairs, sofas, tables, televisions, a jukebox, and shelves with books; least people could pass the time and not go stir-crazy.

'So what do you think partner?'

"Let's save the questions until we get outside."

Grunting back, the blond finally came to the large wooden doors that lead outside. Taking a large deep breath he opened the door. What his eyes took in was a large stone building resembling a factory. But by the gathering of people both inside and outside conversing and eating, the place was likely converted to something else. The multiple tables, chairs, and flowers he could see through the window being a dead giveaway.

Further right connected an ascending hill looked to be another building turned into a school? Or maybe it was an orphanage with all the kids from the ages of toddlers to twelve roaming around playing or learning from the adults around them.

Next to both large buildings and even Mercy Clinics were a slew of shanty makeshift buildings put together by whatever anyone could find. Densely packed together and even on top of each other, not even Nami no Kuni looked like this. It was like a village in the middle of a scrapyard.

However his attention was soon brought up, up, and up till he felt his neck hurt but ignored it as shock etched on his widening eyes. Metal, nothing but metal as far the eyes could see. "What in the hell," the blond muttered slowly.

"It is a lot to take in isn't it?" A soft lyrical feminine voice broke his thoughts. "Glad to see your all better."

"Do you know how hard it was carrying you back up here was buster."

Another female voice spoke making the blond look down to see two ladies (One near his age and the other in her mid-teens) walking towards him. The older of the two was a beautiful brunette with fair skin, in a pink camisole sundress that went down to her calves and a pair of sandals on. While the skirt was free-flowing, her dress hugged her lithe hourglass frame. Her waist-long light brown hair is plaited with a large pink ribbon with segmented bangs framing her heart-shaped face. Her emerald eyes rivaled Sakura's jade as they showed compassion and relief.

The teenage girl beside her wore jean hot pants with mid-heel boots. A black midriff cross halter crop top showing off her generous bust and flat stomach. A cap was adorned her head over her long raven-colored hair. Her strikingly brown colored eyes lightly glared as she crossed her arms under her chest; "I should charge you a hundred Gil each for Aerith here and me. You were super heavy dragging all the way to Doc Isaac's clinic."

"Kyrie!"

The blond scratched the back of his head; "Sorry for the trouble."

Whatever Kyrie was about to say was cut off by her friend; "No trouble at all. Though you looked like you had fought in an all-out war with over a dozen monsters."

"It felt like it," Naruto lamented as he stretched still feeling the soreness in his limbs. "Naruto Uzumaki."

"Aerith Gainsborough," the brunette gestured to herself before to her younger friend; "This is Kyrie Canaan. Happy to finally have the name of the handsome unconscious guy we brought here." Aerith gave a smile with her hands behind her back.

Kyrie half-heartedly grumbled; "Guess I can let you off easy since you were so badly wounded. But only just this once." She pointed a semi-stern finger at the tall blond.

"Yes ma'am."

Aerith leaned a bit forward; "Bet you're hungry after resting for so long." It was at that the tall blond's stomach let out what sounded like a primal roar so loud a few people around them heard and turn their heads. The brunette giggled; "I take that as a yes."

A mild blush came from the young sage who chuckled sheepishly; "Just a little bit." Before he could blink Aerith reached out grabbing his free hand pulling him forward with some decent amount of strength.

"Then I know the perfect place! Come on Kyrie!" The blond couldn't get a word in before being pulled away by the petite brunette. Kyrie only let out a nasally sigh before following. "Mom makes the best food in Midgar!"

"While her daughter can't even cook eggs," Kyrie quipped with a smirk.

"Oh hush!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Going up the dirt hill between the Community center and Leaf House orphanage (As Aerith explained), the trio walked through a long dirt path. Some areas were shaded by extended roofs of old buildings with old and broken construction vehicles; along with old cars and trucks Naruto had seen in more modernized areas of the Nations and beyond it. The blond took note of a metal gate on their right connected to a large open area.

"This place is really run down," Naruto quipped.

Kyrie snorted; "Welcome to the slums of Midgar blondie."

Nearing the end of the path they come to a shanty looking wooden stair that led into what Naruto could describe as a beautiful hidden grotto. Unlike the dry dusty ground they treaded, this place was a lush and vibrant landscape with a waterfall flowing to a beautiful lake in the center. On either side of the water was lush green with all manners of varying flowers and plants with old rusted metal reclaimed by nature. Both sides were connected to two wooden bridges. Either side both had a stone pathway with a more hillside on the right with a lamp.

And on the left resided a large but simple three-story cottage with a rose-colored roof.

Going down the stairs Aerith gestured with a smile; "And here is my home. What do you think?"

The young sage took in a deep breath closing his eyes. Unlike on the other side of the tunnel, he could feel a faint bit of nature chakra flowing here. "A lovely place," he opened his eyes offering a grin.

"Your mom should be back right?" Kyrie questioned with a cocked brow.

"Yup, definitely getting lunch ready by now."

The blond said nothing as he followed the girls to the cottage. Coming up to the porch he saw numerous empty pots and other supplies needed for a florist. Hanging around Ino a lot he was glad he least knew what everything was. "So who has the green thumb?"

"Aerith," Kyrie quipped; "She also does part-time at the diner and orphanage here. She likes being busy, busy, busy." She droned earning a stuck-out tongue from the emerald-eyed brunette before she opened front double doors.

The trio enters a modest dining room with several varying sized cabinets with pictures and flowers adorning them. A simple television on a stand, and in the middle a large round table with several chairs. Hanging above it all is a simple chandelier lighting the room. Connected to the dining room was a flight of stairs and the kitchen to the right.

Currently in the said kitchen was a woman in her mid-years with light brunette hair up in a bun. She wore a green dress (With the sleeves pulled up) with a white apron over it working at the sink. "We're home, mom!" Aerith's voice made the woman turn with a smile.

"Home for lunch, hello Kyrie," she questions in an aged feminine voice. His smile grew more neutral at the sight of Naruto walking in behind her daughter and her friend. "And you would be?" Her sapphire eyes glancing at the sword in his hand and back to his face.

"This is Naruto Uzumaki," Aerith gestured to the tall blond.

Kyrie finished; "The guy me and Aerith had to carry to doc Isaac's days ago."

Recognition glowed in the older woman's eyes; "So you're the man I kept hearing about. By what everyone was saying nobody was sure you'd make it with how you looked like you fought a Behemoth."

"My cousin Karin always said I was too stubborn to die," Naruto mused with a chuckle.

"Well I am glad she was right and you're up," Aerith's mother gave a pleasant nod; "Call me Elmyra, I am guessing my daughter and Kyrie dragged you here for food?"

"Mom," said daughter groaned embarrassed.

The young sage rubbed the back of his head; "Sorry if I'm imposing ma'am."

Elmyra waved it off; "it's fine, take a seat at the table. Just put that sword up somewhere." The blond gave a nod as he walked over to a cabinet placing down his katana. "From that blade, I gather you're a ninja." the older woman asked as she went back to the sink.

"Retired ninja." Naruto clarified as he took a seat at the table with Aerith and Kyrie

"So what are you now?" Aerith asked crossing her arms on the tabletop.

"I'm a sage."

Kyrie, Aerith, and even Elmyra paused for a moment with a glance from said older woman. "I thought sages were nasty old men with long thick beards and perv on girls?" Kyrie remarked.

A deadpan came from the blond; "No." Well, not all of them at least.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

It just… It didn't make any sense… She didn't-

"Honey are you alright?" Elmyra's voice broke her daughter's thoughts as she turned to her; "You hardly ate anything."

A smile graced Aerith's lips shaking her head; "I'm okay, just spaced out." Her mother's head and brow cocked as her daughter begun to eat in earnest.

Outlander….

That was what the planet kept referring to the blond who was currently sitting with Aerith, her mother, and Kyrie at her dinner table. The emerald-eyed brunette observed him as he lightly conversed with her mother and her friend. Naruto stood around the same height as Zack but with broader shoulders and a much more muscular-toned frame. Tan-skinned with spiky sun-kissed blond hair which was long in the back and in a low ponytail going down to his shoulder blades. His face was round with emotive cerulean blue orbs which moved from her mother and Kyrie when asking questions.

Unlike Zack, Naruto was a more rough kind of handsome than the dashing-hero type.

"So…" Kyrie leaned in a bit garnering Naruto's attention; "Why quit being a Ninja?

"Don't beat around the bush do ya?" The blond quipped back dryly.

Elmyra gave the young teen a reprimanding gaze; "Kyrie."

"What? We're all curious aren't we?" the raven-haired girl pressed; "You don't see many from Wutai come around these parts you know. And I thought you never quit being a ninja in Wutai."

"Shouldn't personal questions come after knowing someone for a bit?" Aerith questioned.

The blond scratched the back of his head; "Well;" the ladies turned to him; "You can choose to be a ninja or not. My clan helped me find a better life choice and became a sage, like my great-grandmother." Now, he had zero clue how this Wutai handles their shinobi, but he'd least give how Konohagakure does it to satisfy their curiosity. Pertaining to him for becoming a sage; he had just met these people. As grateful as he was, he wasn't about to tell his life story to strangers.

He damn sure wasn't the same idiot he used to be as a brat.

"Maybe you might actually believe that one day if you keep chanting about it."

Ignoring his Bijuu companion he noticed Elmyra in thought; "About the only sages I heard about is from Cosmo Canyon. But can guess you're not the planetary studying type."

"Nope." The blond took a drink of water.

Aerith's eyes gleamed with curiosity; "So what do you do?"

"Slay evil monsters and demons, beat up bad guys, and protect nature and people."

"Sounds more like a mercenary than a sage," Kyrie remarked.

Well, he did charge for his services but only to those he knew could afford it. Poor villages and towns he helped for free. Satisfying his hero complex as Karin, Sakura, and Ino like to gripe at him.

Touching her mouth with a napkin Elmyra gave the tall blond a look; "So what will you be doing now?"

At that Naruto scratched his head; "Figure out how I got here I guess. Find work while I am at it."

"Ding dong here also has amnesia." Kyrie thumbed to the Uzumaki; "Doesn't even know about Midgar."

"I would like to see how your head would be after going through what you told me he survived;" Elmyra reproached in a motherly manner.

"He can stay with us!" Aerith spoke brightly garnering looks from the others; "What?"

It was Naruto who squinted responded; "While I appreciate the gesture. I don't think your mom would want some random guy living in her house."

"No, she wouldn't." Elmyra deadpanned to her daughter.

"Any hotel around here?"

Kyrie thought for a moment; "In wall-Market."

"But I wouldn't recommend there;" Aerith addressed before tapping her chin; "The community center doesn't have any beds either…" Her voice trailed off. "Well, I am pretty sure we can find somewhere for you around here. I can even give you a tour of Sector five slums."

"O...Kay." the blond said slowly

"Perfect! We can take a look after lunch!" Both Kyrie and Elmyra gave Aerith an odd look as the brunette cheered

'Feel like I am getting dragged into something.'

"When it involves females yes."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Once finishing their lunch Aerith was quick to take the older blond out and give him a tour of sector 5. With a hurried goodbye and thank you to Elmyra, Naruto found himself nearly being dragged around by the shorter woman away from her home. Kyrie had split off from them having said she was going to check on her grandmother.

Now several things Naruto had learned with Aerith being his tour guide of the sector five slums. One; Aerith is a very thorough guide that blond not only knew where all the shops and restaurant where she part-timed at. But also became acquainted with all the owners by name for whom Aerith all knew and was friendly with. Two; the young brunette seemingly had no sense of personal boundaries as she had wrapped one of her arms around his while showing off where she lived.

This led to a few awkward comments from some folks passing by. He swore she was doing this on purpose if that sly smirk on her lips was any indication.

At present both were sitting on the lone bench in the middle of town while people roamed about the market. A shantytown was a rather good analogy of the slums having now taken a gander of the entire area. Every building from shops to houses was makeshift, or former buildings themselves rebuilt, or even vehicles remade for something else. Pipes, being from small to large connected to buildings or were embedded into the ground. And finally, above it all was an enormous television screen which currently showed the daily news.

"Well," Aerith let out a deep breath leaning against the bench; "I think I showed you around everywhere and to everyone."

"And half the folks here think I'm your new boyfriend," Naruto deadpans at her.

"Best way to show people here you're alright."

"Which involves hanging on a total stranger's arm?"

"Yup;" Aerith chirped brightly with a smile.

'She reminds me of Ino.' The blond shook his head; "Well definitely a lively place. Doubt it's easy down here compared to up there I'd imagine;" He pointed upwards.

"Life can be harsh down here, with all the monsters and bandits. But folks in the slums are a tough and stubborn bunch." Her gaze turned towards the upper plate; "Some people may hate it, but I don't…"

Naruto's brow cocked observing the brunette before peering over at the enormous tower-like structure connected to the upper plates. Mako reactor Aerith called them, and everything about them felt beyond wrong.

Om Namah Shivaya~ Om… Namah Shiva~

The blond's ears perked as heard chanting close by. Aerith took noticed of her new acquaintance standing up and begun walking, to which she quickly followed behind. The two strolled through one of the cramp allies to a makeshift open building that resembled a church or temple. Adults and children either kneeling or sitting on the ground or blankets near an altar lit with candles and incense. The centerpiece of the alter was a modest statue of a beautiful elven woman with blue skin and long hair in a high ponytail.

"Ah," Aerith stopped beside the blond who observed; "Have you heard of the ice goddess Lady Shiva?"

Lady Shiva..?

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto and Aerith stood at the closed garage door the blond lifts up revealing a large high fenced in area with a large abandoned cement warehouse building. "Someone used to live here?" the former Shinobi questioned as they walked inside.

"About a few years ago;" the brunette thought for a moment; "Told some of us he was heading to Cosmo Canyon. No idea if he got there though."

Nearing the factory's large sliding metal door; Aerith grabbed hold of the handle and pulled with some effort. The blond winced from a cry of grinding metal as the door opened. The interior was covered with dust from the bottom floor to the steel/cement mezzanine floor above it. The former resident of the place pretty much left everything as it was before leaving. From a metal table with chairs, a couch, a pool table, and other assorted furniture items to make the place feel homey-ish. Close by that was a makeshift kitchen/grill.

"Least the couch looks decent enough," Naruto mumbled as they strolled over.

Placing two fingers on the table, Aerith frowned seeing all the dust on her tips; "Might need a bit of cleaning."

'You think' Naruto and Kurama mentally chorused as the blond neared an enclosed room, likely a former business office. Sure enough, this was the guy's makeshift bedroom, complete with a dresser and nightstand, and a very nasty look mattress Naruto wouldn't let his worst enemy sleep on. It had no bed frame and simply rested on the ground. Coming over bedside the blond, Aerith cringed at the sight of the bed; "Know anyone with an extra bed and maybe a frame so I'm not living like a caveman?"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Night settled in as the blond lied down on a new mattress courtesy of Doc Isaac who also had a frame to go along with it. Having Bid farewell to Aerith, Naruto found the main turning the power back on. Thanks to the lights he found the bathroom and shower the guy had made for himself. Deciding to clean the place tomorrow, his katana rested on the nightstand with his scrolls.

His eyes stared up at the ceiling fan as Kurama manifested outside of him; "Now that we got some privacy. What the hell is going on?" Naruto questioned as his vulpine partner leapt onto the bed.

The vulpine Bijuu remained quiet as he sat on down. "Recall those tales about other realms and dimensions from that body-less idiot and perverted mage."

"Those two have names you know;" Naruto deadpans.

Kurama ignored his partner and kept talking; "Well apparently we got sent to another dimension."

Those words did not hit the blond for a moment before he sat up in his bed in a flash. Kurama saw the sheer unparalleled shock etched on Naruto's cerulean eyes; "W-w-we…What…How?"

"That insane madwoman, that's how idiot." Kurama dryly glared; "Likely waited after we finally brought down that wretched dark sorcerer and his revenants. Avenging your Uchiha 'friend', and when the others left to look around she came for us."

It took years after the Occult War but Konoha and the rebuilt Uzushio was able to locate the sole surviving member of that blasted group. The man who killed Sasuke and took his eyes for himself was cornered at his island fortress. Naruto, Karin, Kakashi, Sakura, and Itachi faced down the ancient and powerful sorcerer Zu Zhang and his undead and demons.

It was anything but easy, and damn near killed half of them, but they won in the end. Closing a very dark chapter of history, along with avenging their late friend and brother.

Then she appeared; "Was she another survivor of that damn cult?"

"I highly doubt it. If they had her, that damn war would have taken a bad turn for us." Kurama shook his head.

Point taken; "How do we get back home? Can you do it?"

"As much as I love bragging, even I have limits Naruto. Dimensional traveling outside of our reality is not very easy and requires immense power along with vast arcane knowledge. So unless you get lucky and find a God roaming around here we're stuck."

Naruto stared at his vulpine friend for a moment before shaking his head; "There has to be a way back home. We can find it…" The one thing that the blond never really outgrew that annoying stubbornness.

As much as Kurama wanted to protest, he knew he couldn't stop Naruto in trying to find some way back home to their world. The ancient Bijuu knew full well how difficult finding such things would be slim to non-existent.

Well, suppose it was better than doing nothing.

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As the morning sun rose over Midgar Aerith, along with Kyrie made their way towards Naruto's new home. "Which is conveniently near your house," the teen girl dryly quipped.

"Better for him to know where a friendly face is."

Kyrie gave a knowing look; "And he being pure eye-candy had nothing to do with it?"

"Maybe~" the older brunette put her hands behind her back skipping ahead.

An eye-roll came from the raven-haired girl as her friend lifted up the garage door to the warehouse. Both took note the buildings sliding door was open as were the lights being on inside. Entering they found the place had been thoroughly cleaned and dusted from top to bottom. From the furniture to the rafter lights, everything looked completely spotless.

However, the girls' eyes were not focused on their surroundings. But their blond acquaintance that was currently performing pull-ups on a bar connected to the mezzanine; "Sup!" he grunted out as he kept exercising.

And he just happened to be shirtless while sweating. Aerith's and Kyrie's eyes took in every detail of the older blond's ripped and toned muscles, his biceps that looked larger than their heads, as well as the eight digits that were his abs.

They had seen his upper torso when they had found him outside the church. But their main concern was his survival at the time than gawking. Now that Naruto was healthy and conscious, both ladies were taking in the view of the impressive male specimen before them.

Doing one last rep the blond dropped down the floor. His brow rose as he noticed Aerith and Kyrie had only been staring; "You guys okay?"

"Yes," Aerith was quick to respond as she blinked several times. "We are, aren't we Kyrie."

Her longtime friend robotically nodded while her thighs rubbed hard against one another.

The blond shrugged as he went over to the table picking up a towel. Emerald and almond eyes followed his every movement. Aerith noticed several tattoos; two on his right upper bicep and a large one cover his back. On the bicep was a unique wild tribal swirl symbol in red with a Wutai 'kanji' word below that. Very simple, but likely held importance to the blond. What showed on his back were three very intimidating looking Wutai-style serpentine dragons (left being brown scaled, right being green, and the center ruby red) which all three roared.

"Hey," Kyrie's voice broke her thoughts; "You worship Lady Shiva?"

The question caught the brunette by surprise before she noticed a final tattoo hiding under Naruto's ponytail and on the back of his neck. The blade part of a trident connected to three horizontal lines which had a circle in the middle of them. One of the two symbols related to the ice goddess.

"My clan believes in Shiva, though I'm not really the overly religious type. But do believe in the Gods."

So he got it out of respect for his clan's beliefs.

Both ladies bit back a whine of disappointment when Naruto put on his shirt; "Figured I'd head to that restaurant you showed me for breakfast."

"Do you have any Gil to actually pay for it?" Kyrie's question was met with a blank expression from the tall blond; "Oh come on, how bad is that amnesia of yours that you forgot what Gaia's currency is!?"

A weak chuckled escaped the blond as he scratched the back of his head.

"Luckily I have plenty of Gil to buy us some breakfast," Aerith spoke up quickly with a wink.

"Sorry for all the trouble," Naruto muttered.

The flower girl waved it off; "Not trouble when it is for a new friend."

Friend eh? The young sage could get behind that.

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"Now are we fully caught up in the understanding of Gil Mr. Uzumaki," Kyrie quipped as she held up two small gold and silver coins in her fingers.

The driest of gazes bore on the blond's eyes as he deadpans at the teen; "Crystal clear Ms. Canaan." Well on the plus side this Gil was sort of like Ryō back home.

Aerith let out a soft chuckle; "If there is anyone in the slums who knows Gil its Kyrie."

At present, the trio sat at one of the tables of the small diner where the brunette worked from time to time. The owner, to the blonde's surprise, gave the meal on the house; At least this one time. So all three happily chowed down on breakfast while Kyrie had been giving the blond 'lessons' on money.

Absently the blond Uzumaki saw Aerith looking at his sheathed katana that lay on the tabletop beside him. "Does my sword bother you?"

"Nope, my ex-boyfriend also had one."

Kyrie's lips formed a sly smirk; "it was his other sword she liked playing around with." Aerith's cheeks turned a bright scarlet before sending a heated look at her friend who grinned back.

"Are you just jealous you're still a virgin," Aerith quipped back now smiling herself.

"Oh shut up!" Kyrie's cheeks now turned scarlet while her friend giggled at her expense.

Amusement danced on Naruto's face; "I take it you two like to bicker a lot."

"Pretty much," both girls chorused which made the sage chuckle.

"Heh, so you'd like to know anything about my katana?"

The flower girl cocked her head; "Where did you get it?"

"It was a gift from my cousin Benjiro. He made it once our clan had reformed;"

The sheath was a beautiful black and red-colored wood with dragons carved into it, and that swirl symbol at the top near the ornate dragon guard. The hilt had leather instead of cloth wrapped around it up to the pommel. With his free hand while putting down his fork, the blond takes his sword and grabs its hilt. Slightly unsheathing the blade both ladies saw metal that was as black as the night.

"Ebony, a very rare metal my Aunt Lyn had just enough for Benjiro to make this for me;" Sheathing in back he puts it back on the table to resume eating.

Something he said had caught Aerith's attention; "Your clan reformed?"

"That's… It is a long story and a bit personal." Naruto gave the brunette an apologetic look. His expression changed as several men and women in regular clothes, but carrying firearms walked passed.

"You sure it wasn't Pete being drunk again," one the women dryly asked

A man shrugged; "Better to be safe than sorry right?"

The blond watched the small group leave as he looked back to the girls; "So who are they?"

"The Watch, they look after the Slums taking care of bandits, monsters, helping folks around, and other stuff;" Kyrie addressed eating into her pancakes.

"…Shinra doesn't look after the folks down here?"

"You heard the expression out of sight, out of mind?" Aerith answered his question with one of her own.

He picked up on the meaning; Shinra has little time for those below their city in the sky.

As the morning pressed on, their casual day ended with a loud explosion jolted everyone at the diner. Soon screams followed as people were running from the main dirt road in a panic.

"Bandits! They killed the watch members!"

Both Aerith and Kyrie tensed up as Naruto's gaze grew sharp. "They got two old Shinra Sweeper mechs!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Neither Aerith nor Kyrie saw Naruto get out of his seat, but the blond was already running down the path with katana in hand. By the time they got from their seats and begun to follow the blond turned to the main dirt path. Rounding the corner the blond saw several people hurt or dead by an explosion that went off seconds ago.

Near the towering gates of sector 5 was the reason. A dozen or so men dressed in rough leathers and all wore veiled clothed masks, all held either a blade or gun in their hands. At the head of the group was a tall man in the best gear of the bunch holding a bat with barbed wire wrapped around it.

Behind the thugs were two robots that towered over people; both looked like the shaft of a train engine with a grill at the front. Exhaust pipes at the back with large weapon arms and legs with sharp-pointed feet.

Aerith and Kyrie both turned the corner; "Who runs INTO danger!?" the teen girl huffed before coming to a stop along with her longtime friend. Both ladies gasped at the bodies near the gate.

"HAH!" the leader as Naruto guessed laughed; "Neighborhood Watch aren't nothing compared to real firepower! This sector is as good as ours!" His men cheered and howled with their boss.

Griping his katana tightly Aerith came to the Uzumaki's side; "Those mechs are Sweepers, they can mow down anything in their path.."

"How'd those idiots get them working," Kyrie hissed out now on the blond's other side.

The young sage however spoke not a word as he kept his gaze on the thugs and their mechs. Their presence was soon noticed as a thug pointed; "Hey boss looks like we missed some more."

A whistle came from the leader; "Well look at those lovely looking ladies" Aerith and Kyrie felt their skins crawl as they felt the hungry eyes of the thugs leering at them. "Oh yeah, we will be having some fun tonight boys!" The man pointed his bat at Naruto; "We don't need you thou-" His words ended as the blond vanished.

The blond had literally disappeared in a single blink of an eye.

"Where are you looking?" the thug's heads nearly snapped as they all turned around seeing the watchman standing on one of their Sweepers. In one hand they saw the sheath of a sword, while said weapon was in his other. Their eyes shone with awe at the blade made of pure midnight metal.

Neither Aerith nor Kyrie had seen their new friend seen move. How did he… The flower girl felt a cold shiver down her spine as she saw the blond's cold gaze at the thugs.

"Now your toys are gone." The blond spoke in a frigid tone.

"Huh, the hell you talking about punk?!" the leader yelled, mustering up what little courage he had as those shadow covered cerulean eyes bore into him. At that moment everyone heard electrical buzzing, which the noise they found came from the sweepers which begun to jerk and glitch where they stood.

Soon Naruto vanished once more as both mechs split in half and their sides collapsing to the ground. Now the blond had reappeared in front of the leader. It was Aerith who noticed something dripping off his sword. "What now, boss?" the blond question as the thugs all turned.

The moment they did both girls gasped as blood sprayed all around from fatal cuts in their bodies. Their lifeless forms fell to the ground as Naruto swirled his sword to fling away the blood and sheathed his blade.

Only the leader of the thugs stood alive. Fear gripped him as his eyes were wide, his body trembling. Cold and calm cerulean orbs gazed back at him; "Your men and your toys are gone boss, what do you have left?"

It is at these moments of intense emotional stress the fight or flight mode kicks in within a person. And apparently rationality flew out the window as the man charged Naruto with his bat raised. He screamed in a pure animalistic battle cry as he swung downward.

All he struck was air before a glowing blue ball slammed into his chest and pain overtook him.

"Rasengan;" Naruto roared as he struck the man with his father's prized jutsu. Like a cannonball the man was blasted away, spinning through the air helplessly till crashing into one of the derelict machines outside the slum gates. The thug leader's body was mangled and lifeless with a large hole where his heart used to be.

And behind him, Aerith and Kyrie had only observed in stunned silence. In a matter of barely a minute, Naruto had dispatched a gang of thugs and Sweeper mechs like they were nothing!

A long sigh escaped the blond as he turned and peered to his new friends. "Sorry that you guys had to see that," Aerith saw the warmth had returned to his eyes as he looked at them.

Her mouth opened and closed a few times before Kyrie could finally speak; "that was so badass! You took down those thugs like they were amateurs."

"Now you're just insulting amateurs, I've met beginners with better skill than these ass clowns." The blond snorted before walking back to them. "Does something like this happen a lot?"

"Not something this bold;" Aerith remarked quietly; "the slums have always been dangerous, and the Neighborhood Watch has kept things safe as best they can." Her gaze turned to the gate; "This was something new."

"Well that was nipped in the bud," Kyrie smiled with her hands on her hips. "And I think we found your calling here big guy!"

Looking back at the gate, he turned to Aerith; "What can you tell me about this Neighborhood Watch?"

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So how was that folks, expect another chapter in between Shoton and Dovahkiin. C-ya on the flip side kids!