Okay here is the next chapter I hope I didn't make you wait to long and I hope you enjoy. Please don't hate me for what I'm about to do!

'Thinking'

'Demon thinking'

"Jutsu"

"Demon talking"

Naruto: The Runaway Chronicles

Chapter 6

"I asked you... who did this to my daughter!" Daso asked as he took another menacing step toward the Leaf ninja.

The leaf ninja along with Naruto stared in awe and fear, as Daso advanced. The amount of Killing Intent he was releasing was insane, and it caused Naruto, Nayumi, and the Chuunin of Leaf to shudder in fear, while a few passing animals seized up and stopped moving.

"Don't make me ask again." Daso stated darkly as he took another step towards the Leaf ninja.

'We are so fucked!' Asuma thought.

"We are so fucked!" Shikamaru said aloud.

"I said..." Daso began but was cut off when Kakashi stepped forward and dropped to the ground in a bowing position, with his head to the grass.

"Please, Lord Daso, I offer my sincerest of apologies. We did not mean to engage a hidden Cloud ninja, we were only here looking for our friend." Kakashi explained, his head still to the ground.

For a second, the other Jonin just stared at him, before quickly following suite, and offering their own apologies.

"Please Lord Daso, forgive me, I was one of the ones to engage your daughter in combat. My subordinates had nothing to do with her injuries, if punishment need be meted out, please leave them out of it." Asuma informed them, sounding as apologetic as he could.

"I fought along side my comrade as well, and accept any punishment in recompense for our actions." Gai added.

"Well then..." Daso stated as the Killing Intent grew even worse and the power the was fluctuating around him grew in magnitude.

The Leaf ninja tensed as Daso's power grew, he reminded them of a cross between Master Jiraiya and Orochimaru. The Jonin, were mentally preparing themselves for what they were sure was about to transpire. Hell, Kakashi was even quickly preparing a brave and noble speech that he would give to his squad mates in order to get them to leave the four Jonin behind to hold off Daso.

"Good Job." Kakashi heard Daso say as he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Kakashi looked up from the ground and saw that Daso was knelt in front of him with a kind smile on his face. His eyes were no longer red, and the blood that had been flowing from them was just gone, like it had never been there.

"What...?" Kakashi asked after a tense moment.

Suddenly Daso let out a hearty laugh, and replied "It's about time someone brought my daughter down a peg or two. She needs to learn humility if shes ever going to be a good leader."

Everyone stared at him for a moment with confused looks, processing what he just when, when suddenly they all face-faulted.

"What the hell do you mean 'good job'!" Nayumi shouted at her father as she got back to her feet.

"Naruto did a good job, teaching you a bit of humility in the free for all, a few days ago, but I felt like you needed another lesson to drive the point home. Here you fought two Jonin and had to use everything you had just to survive. This will serve, as a fine example for you to use in the future should you ever need a reminder in humility." Daso informed his daughter, as his Wife and Chuunin bodyguards all face-palmed in unison.

Nayumi just stared at her father for a moment, dumbfounded before she too face-palmed.

"Wait... You're not mad?" Asuma asked, with disbelief.

"Of course not. Why would I? My daughter is a shinobi, she chose a life of bloodshed and death. If she isn't tested from time to time, and put through true combat, then what good will she be to the country and the hidden Cloud in the future? So no... I am not mad about you fighting my daughter, and if I had to guess, I would have to assume that she started the fight anyway." Daso replied as he gave his daughter a knowing look.

Nayumi stared back for a second and was about to retort, when she remembered how the fight had started when she spin kicked Ino. So in reality Nayumi had been the transgressor.

"I would however like to know what you are doing here and why you are attacking my daughters bodyguard Naruto of the Kitsune?" Daso asked curiously.

"Bodyguard?" Kakashi stated, giving Naruto a look.

Naruto made a face, but after a moment of thought he realized that Lord Daso was covering for him, and hiding the fact that he was to be married to Nayumi.

"Yes... Naruto is my bodyguard... and my rival." Nayumi backed up her fathers story and gave Hatake a smile.

"Our apologies... we did not know that Naruto was affiliated with the Lightning. You see... we've been looking for him for a few years now... and when we found him, we assumed he had been brainwashed or something of the like. So we felt that we had to use force to bring him back." Kurenai stated, only half lying. They did believe that someone had done something to Naruto, but they weren't sure what it was, he might have been turned into someones zombie slave, then again someone could have convinced him to abandon the leaf, either way, they didn't know.

"Ah... I see. Why though, if you don't my me asking, are you looking for him?" Daso asked giving them all a look.

"Naruto... well..." Kakashi began, but then paused and scratched hid head, thinking of a way to explain to them why they were here, without letting them know that Naruto was a Jinchuriki.

"Naruto used to be good friend with the late third Hokage. Our village cares a great deal about him." Kurenai came up with a convincing lie.

"Ah... well then. Naruto... do you wish to return to the Leaf?" Daso asked looking back at Naruto with a warm smile.

"No." Naruto replied coldly, to the shock of his old Leaf comrades.

"Well... it seems Naruto doesn't want to go, but just to be sure." Daso began as he turned and walked back over to Naruto.

"Are you under any Genjutsu right now?" Daso asked, as he examined Naruto.

"No." Naruto answered his eyes on the ground, avoiding the stare of his old Leaf counterparts, though more specifically Sasuke.

"Have you been coerced to stay here in the land of Lightning?" Daso asked.

"No... I'm free to leave if I want." Naruto answered, still staring at the ground.

"Do you want to stay here in Aski?" Daso asked as he placed a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Yes I do." Naruto answered as he looked up at Daso and smiled.

"Well... as you can see Naruto doesn't want to go back. And as one of my close personal friends I would not see it as just, to send him somewhere that he doesn't want to go." Daso informed the Leaf ninja.

"Naruto... how can you say that? The Leaf is your home, and we're here to take back. Lady Tsunade has been so worried about you, and the people of the Leaf have missed you dearly." Sakura stated.

"Bullshit!" Naruto stated in a monotone voice.

"It's true Naruto. Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade have dedicated a lot of time and effort to find you and bring you back, they both miss you dearly, as do we." Kakashi stated as he stood.

"You were my sensei right? Somehow I find it hard to believe that you missed me. Besides you had your precious Uchiha to look after." Naruto hissed at Kakashi, and for the first time Kakashi got a good look at Naruto's eyes and found that there was no recollection in them. It was like he didn't know him.

"Naruto... do not say such unyouthful things to Kakashi sensei, he has spent many long hours engrossed in worry and pain as he struggled to find you. His flames of youth were greatly diminished by your disappearance, and it took a lot of effort to keep his flames strong!" Gai informed him.

"What the fuck is wrong with your eyebrows?" Naruto asked, what the rest of the Cloud nin were thinking.

"...What?" Gai asked after a moment, with a confused look on his face.

"Naruto... is there something wrong with you?" Sakura asked what a couple of the others had sensed. Naruto was speaking to them without recollection, he spoke angry words, but he didn't have true anger to back it up. It's almost like he was angry because he felt he had to, not because he actually did.

"No... nothing is wrong with me 'Pinky'. In fact, I've never been better." Naruto spat at her. That was real anger.

"Naruto... please do not be angry with Sakura she was just worried about your health." Lee stated.

"Holy shit! Theirs two of you!" Naruto recoiled, as he looked between Gai and Lee, at first Naruto thought they were just clones, but now he noticed a few differences between them.

Lee adopted the same confused look as Gai, and just stared off for a moment.

"Naruto... we all came here to bring you home. If they could have been, you could bet that Iruka, and Jiraiya and Tsunade, would have been here as well. We've all missed you dearly and wish for you to come home. I'm sorry that Kurenai's team attacked you, but they truly thought you were being influenced by an outside force." Kakashi tried to speak to his old student but Naruto wouldn't even look at them.

Naruto stood silent for a second before locking eyes with Kurenai. Kurenai almost recoiled as she saw nothing but disdain in his eyes.

"As I don't wish to start any sort of conflict over this, I will choose not to press for any action to be taken against these Leaf ninja. I ask that they be pardoned, Lord Daso, and that they be allowed to leave without punishment." Naruto stated in a very formal, and monotone voice. Over the years of dealing with noblemen, bandit leaders, and merchants, Naruto had become quite adept at addressing his superiors in a formal and regal fashion. Daso knew that the boy hated to act all formal, but it still impressed him how easily Naruto could pull a complete 180 and go from goofy and laid back to prim and proper. He was sure, given time, Naruto would easily be able to fend off the vultures at court, once he married Nayumi.

"Very well, Naruto. Since they didn't harm the village and my daughter started the other fight, I guess the only thing I have to deal with is them being here without permission." Daso stated with a warm smile as her turned and looked at Kakashi.

"Normally I would ask that you please leave the land of Lightning before I have to inform the Raikage of this transgression, but seeing as how I am of a mood, and it has been so long since I had a good chat, with our friends from the Leaf, I hereby offer you an invitation to join me and my family, as we prepare for daughters wedding ceremony in a few days." Daso told the Leaf ninja who all stared at him slack jawed while the lightning Chuunin, his wife, daughter, and Naruto all face-faulted.

"What?" Kakashi asked, as everyone stared at Daso confused.

"My daughter is to be married here in a few days, to a noble warrior, from a distant land, we are preparing a large celebration, and you know what they say the more the merrier!" Daso informed him with a hearty laugh.

"Why the fuck would you do that?" Both Naruto and Nayumi asked at the same time, though suddenly Nayumi stiffened and looked around. Naruto noticed her sudden movement, and began to wonder if she really was injured.

"Naruto..." Nayumi stated as her head started to bobble back and forth.

"Uh... yeah?" Naruto asked as he stepped in front of her and tried to get a good look at her.

"Catch me..." Nayumi muttered as her legs gave out from under her. Naruto was quick enough to catch her before she hit the ground, and suddenly he adopted a worried look.

"Old man Daso, I think she's hurt." Naruto informed her father, as he knelt down with Nayumi in his arms.

"She's just exhausted, she overused her Kekkei Genkai." Daso said, giving Nayumi a worry-less glance.

"Lord Hiyoto... if I may ask, why do you want us to attend the wedding celebration? I mean, I'm not ungrateful for your pardon, or anything, but... this just seems... unwarranted." Kakashi asked, eying the old shinobi carefully.

"Well you see... I'm a sucker for a good party, and besides, you said you were Naruto's friends. He may not wanna go back to the Leaf, but that shouldn't mean that he shouldn't be allowed to see and talk to his old friends. Also... if you'd be willing, I would like to open up a dialogue with your Hokage so that we can discuss the halting of future attempts to take the boy, against his will." In a happy go lucky emotion, Daso explained every possible reason he had for inviting them. Though secretly, Naruto guessed that he wanted to rub the Leaf's face in it, when he and Nayumi were married, and though that idea did sound kind of appealing it it's own way, Naruto did not like the idea of having any Leaf ninja's anywhere near him.

"Well... we would need to contact the Hokage and let her know, but I don't see a problem with hanging around. Besides it would give us a chance to talk to Naruto and maybe find out what course of events led to this outcome." Kakashi replied after receiving nods of approval from the other Jonin.

"Well then it's settled. Go ahead and send your message and then present yourself at the castle. If I don't hear from you in two days I'll assume you went home." Daso said as he turned and motioned for his shinobi to leave.

"Do you have her?" Daso asked as Naruto scooped Nayumi into his arms.

"Yeah." Naruto replied, without looking back.

"Naruto..." Sakura tried once again to talk to him, but he quickly shunshined away.

Daso made a face and simply looked back at the Leaf nin and shrugged before following after Naruto.

The Leaf ninja held their collective breaths for a few moments before finally letting the tension dissipate.

"I can't believe that was Naruto." Tenten stated with a sigh.

"He seems so different." Choji added.

"Somethings obviously wrong with him. Did you see his eyes, they were full of anger and distrust. Not to mention there was that girl and how he reacted when he thought she was dead." Sakura said as she adopted a thoughtful look.

"She must be someone precious to him. Daso said that he was her bodyguard. He must have been here for a while if he got Daso to trust him." Kakashi mused.

"It doesn't matter what she is to him, we've finally found him, now we're one step closer to bringing him home." Sasuke stated.

"I agree with Sasuke, we should focus on getting Naruto home, the rest can wait." Shikamaru said with a scratch of his head.

"It may not be that simple... Daso said that his daughter was to be married, to a noble warrior from a distant land..." Asuma mused, letting the statement hang in the air.

"You don't think?" Kurenai asked, with a shocked look.

"Actually I do... but regardless, we need to report back." Asuma stated, to which Gai and Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"What are you guys talking about?" Sakura asked with a little confusion.

"Oh, nothing just musing over some stuff." Kakashi replied giving her an eye smile, which caused an annoyed tick to appear on the back of her head.

"Naruto seemed so different, and he was so angry with us." Hinata stated, sad that she was unable to even say anything to him.

"Yeah... I wonder what could have happened to make him hate us so much." Ino wondered aloud.

"He doesn't hate us. I'm sure someone, like maybe Daso, is manipulating him into feeling like that." Sakura shot back, being her usual stubborn self.

"Sakura is right... something was definitely wrong with him. The way he looked at me... he didn't know who I was." Kurenai stated, giving Kakashi a glance.

"So you noticed that too?" Kakashi asked, returning her glance.

"Yeah... could someone have erased his memories?" Kurenai wondered.

"It's possible. But we can't worry about it now, we need to send word back to lady Tsunade, then we can focus on Naruto." Kakashi stated, in a commanding tone as he prepared to move out.

"Right." The other three sensei's agreed.

"Just hold on Naruto... we wont be much longer." Sakura stated, as they all turned to leave.

-Later-

"I don't see why you're so upset?" Daso stated as Naruto paced back and forth in front of Nayumi's bed. They had brought her back, and set her in her bed to rest, sadly she was still covered in dried blood, and her open skin wounds had to be bandaged so while Naruto paced and Daso tried to calm him, Ayane meanwhile tended to her daughter's wounds and wiped away what blood she could.

"How could you let those bastards in Aski. Do you have any idea what they will do to get me back?" Naruto asked angrily as he continued to pace.

"They won't do anything, other then try to convince you to come back. All you need to do is say no. if they try anything then I will kill them, it's as simple as that." Daso said with a shrug as he watched Naruto pace.

"How can you be so calm about this? If the Leaf figures out that you're marring me to Nayumi, they will flip their shit, and probably declare war on us." Naruto whined.

"Don't worry so much. They wont do anything. They fear me to much to react, and by the time they learn that you're the one that's marring Nayumi, it will be too late. By that time the Raikage will be here, and they wouldn't dare to ever think of causing a scene in the Raikage's presence." Daso explained to Naruto with confidence.

"And what if they figure out before hand? What if they go to the Lightning Daimyo or the Fire Daimyo?" Naruto asked still obviously worried.

"And do what? Tell them that I'm having my daughter marry a blonde? They don't know that I know you're a Jinchuriki. And the land of Lightning doesn't know that the Leaf is missing their Jinchuriki. I can assure you, the Leaf will move heaven and earth to keep that fact a secret. They won't want anyone to know that their greatest weapon is gone, and they most certainly don't want me to know that the boy, who is marring my daughter is their Jinchuriki." Daso told him.

Naruto stared at him for a moment, sensing the logic in what he said, even though he still didn't like it. "Still... why did you have to invite them to the wedding?" Naruto asked after a moment.

"Because I want them to see it happen, and to know that there is nothing they can do about it." Daso replied causing Naruto to give him a look. That was probably one of the darkest things Daso had ever said in front of Naruto.

"You have nothing to worry about Naruto... we've got your back, and soon the Leaf will not be able to do anything, short of attacking you, to get you to go back to that horrible place." Ayane reassured him as she finished stitching and bandaging the last of Nayumi's wounds.

"How can you guys be so confident. I mean sure you guys are tough, but all of those Leaf nin were either Chuunin or above, and two were legendary ninja." Naruto replied as he thought about Gai and Kakashi. Naruto didn't remember either of them, but he had heard of them, during his travels and from the Fox.

"Naruto... you have nothing to fear from them... we have your back, and soon the Raikage will be back in the village along with lord Bee. The Leaf won't dare try anything." Daso replied, giving Naruto a warm smile.

"But still..." Naruto began but was cut off.

"Hey dope... are you whining about something?" Nayumi asked in a tired voice.

"Well, look who's finally waking up." Daso said happily as he walked over and sat next to Nayumi on the bed.

"Sorry about not killing those bastards for you Naruto, I guess I bit off more then I could chew." Nayumi apologized, while at the same time giving him a pained half smile.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm just glad that you're alright, you had me really worried out there." Naruto replied with a warm smile, that caused Nayumi to blush, though luckily the dried blood on her cheeks hid it.

"Thanks... I just wish you didn't have to face them again. I shouldn't of left you alone earlier." Nayumi stated, trying her hardest to focus her eyes on Naruto, but she kept losing her focus and her vision kept blurring from pain and exhaustion.

"Like I said... it's all good, I'm just glad you're alright. By the way... thanks for trying to keep Sakura away from me, and thanks even more for snapping out of my rage. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't gotten back up." Naruto thanked her with an appreciative grin.

"You're welcome." Nayumi replied as she blushed again.

After a moment, Nayumi felt the urge to ask Naruto about something. "Hey... can I ask you something?"

"Sure, shoot." Naruto replied.

"Why did you get so upset when you thought I was hurt?" Nayumi asked, with a distant look on her face.

Naruto's eyes quickly fell to the floor, as Ayane and Daso both looked at him for an answer.

After a pregnant pause Naruto finally replied. "I didn't think you were hurt... I thought she had killed you. I didn't know about your Kekkei Genkai, and I thought that kick to the spine and the face-plant into the tree, had killed you. You have to understand... I don't have a lot of friends... in fact, you are three of the four people that I would consider 'friends'. When I thought you had died... I don't know... I guess I felt like, once again the Leaf had taken something precious to me. I know it sounds corn and all... but I consider you guys like family... I mean... I know it's all political and stuff, but you don't know how psyched I am to be able to say that you're my in-laws." Naruto explained in a sad tone of voice as he gestured towards Ayane and Daso.

"...and... when it comes to Nayumi... I don't know... I guess..." Naruto paused at this point and blushed slightly before continuing, "Even though, I sometimes find her pride to be a little annoying... I guess I kind of like her, you know. I mean... no... what I meant to say was that I admire her, I mean she's pretty and strong, she's got a lot going for her, and she's loved by her people. Even if her guards think she's a show off." Naruto finished, trying not to sound to mushy about it.

"I knew you liked her!" The Fox roared at him triumphantly.

"Shut up!" Naruto inwardly muttered.

Naruto stared at the floor for a few moments, when suddenly he heard the shuffling of covers, he glanced up from the ground to see that Nayumi had crawled down to the end of the bed, where he was standing, and was now up on her knees staring eye level with him.

The two stared at each other for a moment, before Nayumi reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, all the while Naruto couldn't help but notice her legs tremble, as they struggled to support her weight.

"I admire you too, Naruto. You're brave, and clever, not to mention powerful. You're graced with good looks, and yet you aren't stuck up about it. You are kind and gentle, and you make the people around you feel good... I guess in a way, I like you too." Nayumi stated giving him a smile.

"Thanks Nayumi." Naruto replied with a smile. The two smiled and stared at each other for a moment, before realizing that they were staring at each other, and turning their heads.

"Okay, I thought it was cute earlier, but you two are unbearable." Daso said with a laugh as he stood and stretched.

"Okay Nayumi, the healer will be here tomorrow, but until that time you need someone to wash off all that blood." Ayane said with a smile as she too, stood.

"It's alright mother, I'm fine." Nayumi muttered.

"No you are not, you're barely able to sit up right now. So what makes you think you can spend the next hour scrubbing blood off of your body?" Ayane asked.

Nayumi glared halfheartedly at her mother for a moment, before submitting. "Alright would you like me or Naruto to do it?"

"WHAT?!" Both Naruto and Nayumi shouted at Ayane, while Naruto's face turned as red as a tomato.

"Well we've both seen you naked, so it's not like it's that big of a deal." Ayane replied, all the while Daso was doubled over laughing his ass off.

"QUICK KIT! AGREE TO DO IT!" The Fox shouted with a laugh.

"Fuck off!" Naruto shouted in reply.

"Man... lady Ayane sure did blindside you." The Fox said with another laugh.

"Leave me alone." Naruto whined in embarrassment.

"Wait... Ayane said that she and you have already seem Nayumi naked... that means that she knows you were the peeking pig at the spas!" The Fox informed him.

"Oh Shit..." Naruto muttered as he glanced at Ayane who simply offered him a vixens smile, and then winked.

"That woman... She has plans for you." The Fox muttered in befuddlement.

"Well, how about it Naruto? You think you can clean me up?" Nayumi suddenly asked, as she gave Naruto a seductive grin.

"What...?" Naruto muttered as his face somehow got redder.

Nayumi just continued to grin at him for a moment before letting out a girlish laugh. "I'm just fuckin' with you Naruto. You guys can go." Nayumi said giving Naruto a friendly slap on the cheek.

"That ones going to end up like her mother." The Fox commented as Naruto turned on his heels and began heading to the door, eager to escape this embarrassing trap.

"Ah woman... they know just the right ways to push our buttons." Daso commented as he joined Naruto in leaving.

"Yeah... I'm gonna have to think of a way to get those two back for that." Naruto muttered, as he barely caught the sound of womanly laughter coming from the room behind him.

"Hey Naruto... May I ask you something?" Daso inquired, as they walked.

"Sure." Naruto replied.

"Why did you hold back against those Leaf ninja. Even outnumbered and overpowered you still held back, why?" Daso asked, giving Naruto a look.

"I don't know... I guess I didn't want the Lightning and the Cloud to have to endure the Leaf's wrath, if I ended up killing one of their ninja." Naruto replied, though he sounded almost downcast.

"Noble... but I thought you hated them. I thought you wanted them to leave you alone forever." Daso continued his questioning.

"I do... and I do hate them... the people I mean." Naruto replied.

"What do you mean the people?" Daso asked with a cock of his eyebrow.

"I still love the village... I love how the people support each other. I love how they believe in one another, I love the will of fire, and what it means. I love looking up at those stone monuments and seeing the Hokage watching over the village... I love all of that stuff. But I hate the people. I hate that they never included me, that they bullied me, beat me, and made my life a living hell. I hate how no one cared, and how I was tossed aside like I was nothing. I hate them... I hate them all!" Naruto came to a halt as he replied, clenching his fist in anger, and trying to hold back tears.

"Naruto..." Naruto heard his name as he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. Naruto glanced up and saw Daso staring at him, giving him a sad smile. "I promise Naruto... I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe from them. I won't let them take you back to that hellish place. And if you'll have us, then we'll be your family. The people of Aski, the land of Lightning, and the Hidden Cloud. I will help you find a place in this world, and I promise I will always look out for you." Daso swore, his face sad and serious.

Naruto couldn't hold back tears anymore, and let them flow freely down his face, "Thanks... old man... it means a lot." Naruto replied as he tried to wipe the tears away.

"Naruto... how would you like for me to take you on as my student?" Daso asked after a moment.

"What?" Naruto asked looking up at him with surprised eyes.

"How would you like me to teach you. I know you are already, really strong, but it never hurts to grow stronger, and who knows... I might be able to pass on something interesting." Daso replied with a grin.

"What do you think Fox?" Naruto asked, unsure of what to do.

"I say go for it. At the very least, he might be able to teach you some new jutsu." The Fox replied. Ever since he had left, the Fox had served as his teacher, the problem was, is that most of the Jutsu that the Fox knew were fire based, and Naruto was wind based, so they weren't compatible. Mostly the Fox just taught Naruto about seals and how to manipulate the form of his Rasengan.

"Okay... sure. I'll be your student." Naruto replied with a wide grin.

"Good... then we'll begin your training after, the wedding... and the honeymoon." Daso added as he turned and walked away, laughing the whole time as Naruto's face turned red.

"Oh... this is going to be so much fun." The Fox said with a laugh.

"I hate you both." Naruto muttered, dejectedly, as he followed after Daso.

"Look at it this way, Kit... things are about to get very interesting in your life." The Fox informed him with a snicker.

"They most certainly are." Naruto replied as he walked after Daso. His mind quickly turned to the Leaf ninja who even now, were only few miles away, and soon they would be right on his doorstep. Naruto had to wonder, if when the time came, he would actually kill them to earn his freedom, or if he would be unable to seize what he rightfully deserved.

Okay that's it for this chapter. Let me know what you think and thanks for reading!