Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. On this one, we're going to have a Naruto and Lightning moment, something you guys have been waiting for. Also, make sure to check out my poll if you hadn't already or my other stories. Now, enjoy.

Disclaimers: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy XIII

Chapter 7: You're a Smoker?

"You're sure you need to go now Gaara?"

It was an hour after the group decided to rest up. Now, they all rest up and ready to go, so Gaara brought the sand dome down. Also, Gaara decided to leave the group and get back traveling by himself.

Gaara nodded. "You know why I need to go Naruto. Amulet holders can't be together for a long time-"

"-else risk the chance of shifty groups trying to get multiple amulets. I get it." Naruto said with a chuckle. The group gather around Gaara as he prepare to leave. "Well, good luck Gaara. Make sure to update on anything you find about these things."

"Same to you Naruto." Gaara replied, the two bro hugging. Then Gaara whispered to him, "Are you planning to stay with this group for long?" Naruto sighed. He's been talking to Gaara, when he was out of earshot with the others, about leaving the group and going on his own again, for their own protection.

"Probably not." Naruto whispered back. "I'll probably leave as soon as possible." Gaara nodded in acceptance.

"Just remember what I said. Don't deny yourself happiness." Gaara whispered. Naruto sighed as the two ended the hug. Gaara knows about his feelings for Lightning, but Naruto doesn't know if she return those feelings. Light doesn't seem the ones for romance.

With that, Gaara form a sand disk from under him and fly off. Vanille and Serah shouted goodbye to Gaara while the others merely wave.

"So." Snow started, looking at Naruto. "Can you tell us more about these amulets?" Naruto saw the look Lightning is giving him, saying that she also want the answer to that and want it now.

He sighed. "I can tell you while we walk. Lightning can lead us, since she know the area." Lightning blink in surprise.

"How do you know that?"

"I saw the look of recognition in your eyes." Naruto answered with a smile. "Now, let's walk and talk." With that, the group and everyone pay attention Naruto's story.

From what Gaara told him before he went to the Hanging Edge, they amulets are a key. They were made to hold something powerful and there is a total of nine of them. Their ancestors were chosen to protect and it always been pass down to each generation.

Vanille and Fang look at each other, the two of them slightly worried. They heard of this legend before on pulse. The legend of the amulet wielders, the ones that keeps the fourth fal'cie from rising up. Konton.

Fortunately for them, no one seemed to see their worried looks. "So you're ancestors hold the ninth amulet correct?" Serah asked, getting a nod from Naruto. "And did you met the other amulet holders?"

Naruto smile. "We met each other one time or another, but we never stayed together for long. It's too dangerous for two or more holders to stay together, which is why Gaara left."

"So who are the other holders?" Lightning asked him. The group is now climbing up some of the debris they bumped into.

"Well, you already know Gaara, who holds the first one. The other Is Yugito, a woman who holds second amulet." Naruto began. "The one who holds the third is Yagura. Fourth amulet holder is Roshi. The fifth one is Hana. The sixth is Ukata, seventh is Fuu, and the eighth is Kirabi, nicknamed Killer B." He wonder what would happen if Snow and B met. Oh god, he hope B doesn't get Snow into rapping. He don't think he could save either of them from Lightning's wrath.

Snow smiled. "The last one sounds like a cool guy." Lightning scoff in disagreement.

"More like a cocky l'cie."

"Come on Lightning, can you lighten up?"

"You're version of lighten up is becoming an idiot like you."

"Ouch, that hurts. Hurts indeed."

Naruto sigh in annoyance as the two started bickering. Sazh was the same way, as he drag his face with both hands. "Do they often argue like that?" Sazh asked.

"Nearly every day, especially when Serah started dating Snow." Naruto told them. He can imagine what Lightning had to say when Snow and Serah announced that they were getting married. He went into his pocket to get something. "The two of them are nearly complete opposites, Snow a care free and naive kind of guy while Lightning is very serious. It's no wonder those two bicker, though Snow is trying to be a friend to her."

Sazh nodded in understanding. He was about to say more, when he notice what Naruto pulled out something from his pocket. A box of cigarettes.

Naruto took a cigarette out and snap his finger to create a few sparks to light up the match. Once it was lite up, he heard Sazh spoke. "You smoke?" Naruto turn when Sazh spoke. Not only that, but Sazh question gain the attention from everyone in the group.

"...Yeah." Naruto said, already knowing this isn't going to be received well. He was right.

"What the hell?!" Snow exclaimed in shock, ignoring the dirty look from Nora. "Since when did you smoke and why?!"

Naruto took a quick breath of cigarette, getting disapproval looks from Sazh and Nora, before answering. "Two years after I left Bodhum and it keeps my nerves down."

Naruto jump back when Vanille and Serah try to snatch his box of cigarettes. "Hey!"

"Shouldn't be using that!" Vanille said, attempting to snatch the cancer box away from Naruto. "You can get sick or poisoned by those things!"

Naruto prepare for Vanille to snatch it away from him again, but this time, he had to roll under Vanille when Serah try to snatch it away from him from behind.

Naruto sigh in relief. That was too close. "Can you stop snatching it away from me?!"

"We're not going to let you smoke!" Serah said back. She doesn't want her brother figure to get sick because of the toxic. So, here they are, the group watch as Vanille and Serah try to snatch the cigarettes from Naruto.

While Hope found this a bit amusing, he hope Vanille and Serah take those things away from Naruto. He doesn't like the man he admires smoking. His mother told him how bad and addictive it is so he doesn't have any desire to smoke.

Like Hope, Sazh and Nora doesn't approve of the blonde smoking either. While Naruto is of legal age, smoking can mess up your internal organs, most likely your lungs or liver.

Fang, in the meanwhile, don't really care. If the blonde choice to smoke, let him do it. It's not like he's smoking inside a building. But still, it's funny to see Vanille and Serah falling on their stomach when they try to get the cigarettes away from him.

Vanille and Serah huff and puff, their hands on their knees as Naruto grin victoriously, holding up his box of cigarette. "Sorry you two, but a few years younger to try and take-" The cigarette was then snatch away from Naruto's hand before he can blink. He blink, looking at his now empty hands before looking at the person who took it. Lightning.

Lightning glare at him before crushing the box in her hand. "You will not smoke anymore cigarettes while we are around?! Got it!" Normally, Naruto would've argue about that, but seeing the glare Lightning gave him, making him drop his head and nod mournfully.

Good thing he got an extra box in his sleeves. He'll use it when nobody's looking.

(1 hour later)

"Well, this look like a dead end." Naruto commented, looking at the seemingly giant wall in front of them. They have been walking for hours, with the occasional fights and climbing of debris before they ended up in this dead end. "Lightning, do you know a way through this?"

Lightning look up at the dead end. "I been here on missions here, so yeah."

"Missions?" Hope asked, curious. He was sitting down on one of the rocks here. "Nothing to do with the purge though right?" A few feet away from him, Snow scoff.

"No. The purge is PSICOM's evil plan through and through." Snow replied.

Naruto spoke up while he is looking for an entrance. "The military is split into two groups. The Public Security and Intelligence Command known as PSICOM…."

"...And the Guardian Corps." Lightning finished for Naruto. "I was Guardian Corps, Bodhum Security Regiment."

Hope furrow his eyebrows, something not clicking. "I don't get it. If you weren't PSICOM, why did you board the train?"

Before Lightning could answer, Serah spoke up. "For me." Hope turn to Serah when she spoke up. She is laying down on one of the boulders with Vanille. "Lightning got on the train so she could save me. The same with Snow."

"That's right. And we do it again, no question." Snow replied with his usual grin. Hope took all of this with a bit of disbelief.

"You did all that for your sister?" Hope asked, speaking to Lightning. "That's….really brave. I don't know if I could do something like that."

"It's not a question of can or can't." Lightning told him. "There some things in life, you just do." Naruto nodded in agreement to Lightning's word.

He then turn to Hope. "If your mother was in trouble, wouldn't you try and save her if you were given the chance?"

"Of course." Hope said immediately, making Nora smile. He love his mom, he is not going to hesitate about it after all of this. Naruto smile.

"Like Lightning said, it isn't a question of can or can't." Naruto said to him. "You should remember that Hope." The boy nodded to Naruto's word. Naruto then found a lever near the giant debris. "This should do something."

When pulled, a claw suddenly launched out and latch onto something from the end. It reeled it in until they were connected, making something everyone can jump on. Naruto grin. "Let's go you guys."

The group continue their track through the land, with Naruto and Lightning at the front. It was an actually peaceful walk compared to all the things they did in the span of the whole day.

"So, when did Serah and Snow got engage?" Naruto asked, conversing with her.

Lightning grunted at the reminder, making Naruto chuckle. It's no secret that Lightning doesn't really approve of Serah's choice of who she dated. "A few days before the purge. She also told that she was an l'cie as well. Me and Snow had….lash out on each other."

Naruto winced. "How bad?"

"Enough to bring Serah into tears."

"Damn." Naruto said. He then sigh. "Can't you at least, tolerate Snow? You know as well as I do that the two are truly in love with each other."

Lightning sigh. "I'm try, but Snow is making it hard by his idiocy." Naruto roll his eyes. He knows the reason Lightning doesn't like Snow is because of his optimistic and naive personality, for always trying to be a hero.

"And you're in the Guardian Corps now." Naruto said. He then look down on the ground. "I'm sorry that I missed that." Lightning has been talking about going into the military group a few weeks after her parents died. Been training hard to get there while he and his parents gave them enough money to last until Lightning could get to her goal. Hey, his family is really rich so what his parents gave her barely affected them.

Lightning look away from Naruto, clenching her fist. "Me too." It was a silent walk then.

Lightning look at Naruto. He has grown over the past couple of years and not just physically. He's more serious about things and have this look like he seen things people shouldn't see. But it was still the same Naruto she….gain feelings for all those years ago.

And that's the end. I know the chapter is short, trust me, I know. But I can't really think of anything else in this chapter right now. I hope you guys understand and I'm not going to promise that the chapters will be longer in the future. But I promise to keep each chapter at least five pages long, or more.

Remember to check out my poll on my profile. Also to review, favorite, and follow and that I will see you later.