Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy 7. This is a non-profit-based work.
Note: Inb4 I disappear for another 5 months, lmao.
So just a last reminder before we get going, characters from the remake will make an appearance. In general mostly those from around the slums, Madam M, Chocobo Sam, etc. They won't play super major roles, so in case you've only played the original - I hope that's clear any potential confusion.
If y'all are interested in joining a community of readers and several talented authors, consider joining AizenTheGoat's Discord server.
QBzbm58Dn4
改行
-Chapter 4-
The Slums.
改行
Naruto panted slightly as he dashed from one building to another. He'd been running from the patrols and pursers ever since he'd disappeared from the Shinra building. Reno and Rude looking the other way had helped him a ton, so there was a nice distance between them at the rate he was going.
It had given him enough time to run through one of the smaller warehouses primarily used for storing old equipment. It didn't have as much security, so all he really had to do was smack two guards' heads together and render them unconscious before searching through the inventory until he found what he was looking for.
A parachute back from wartime. There were only so many modifications one could make to parachutes, but Shinra had managed to modify them enough to put old models into storage on the outskirts of the plate, which he was currently quite grateful for.
Now he just had to pray he didn't splatter out on the ground of the slums like a bug on a windshield.
Probably wasn't the best time to realize he wasn't specifically religious, but all he could do was hope he'd survive. Plus, he was a SOLDIER, it wasn't like a little fall would kill him. Right?
He let out a slight sigh as he climbed down on the outskirts of the plate, the strong winds blowing through his hair as he held onto a steel pipe so he wouldn't just fall over the edge. With a deep breath, he tightened the parachute and double-checked the location of the wire he'd have to pull to release it.
The blond took another quick breath before he stepped over the edge, all connected to the ground disappearing as he fell through the air. The sharp and cold winds almost felt like tiny daggers against his half-lidded eyes, as the lights of the slums came closer and closer.
As he determined he'd fallen a great enough distance away from the plate, he pulled the string to release the chute. His entire body was pulled to a halt, as the speed he'd dove through the air rapidly decreased until he was just gliding.
He let out a breath of relief, as he let his mako-enhanced eyes wander over the area. It was at that point he realized he had no idea where to go. It wasn't very often he'd been to the slums, and if he had, it'd only been in the area in which they trained the Turks but nowhere else really.
However, there was one place he was at least remotely familiar with. And he instantly recognized it due to the large walls around it, as well as the insane amount of light that made it resemble a never-ending festival.
'Wall Market is located within Sector 6, I guess I can always go there and ask for directions. It's the closest I'll get to Sector 7 without having to guess.' He internally chuckled as he got closer to the ground.
As to not frighten anyone, he landed in a remote scrapyard a mile or so away from the actual center of Wall Market. He dusted himself off as he used a knife to cut off the parachute, and threw the backpack into a nearby pile of rubbish. After getting adjusted to being on the surface of the planet again, he started to wander in the direction of the bright lights of the slum.
The closer he got, the louder the commotion got. He could hear the loud music playing, along with several loud voices calling or shouting from within the place, almost as if some kind of festival were indeed going on behind the walls.
He knew better though, from the reports he'd received this was just an average night within Wall Market, so he wasn't particularly surprised to see people vomiting on the ground as soon as he entered the place.
Time seemed to pass by quickly as he walked around and asked people a couple of questions. Though he started to find it odd that everyone looked at him like he was some kind of weirdo.
All he did was ask where to go if he wanted to go to Sector 7, but whenever he did, they'd just look at him and then his armor before walking away without saying a word.
Occasionally he'd get told to get lost, but he soon enough figured out what the problem was.
He stuck out like a sore thumb in this place, because he looked like a Shinra operative. And if he were to guess, he'd say that Shinra wasn't very welcome here. He couldn't blame them much, less than a couple of hours ago that'd been the case. And his armor would make people hesitant to believe that he was a deserter.
Slowly he let out a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest, standing around the outskirts with a tired expression. It'd been a while since he'd gotten some proper rest, and was close to simply dumping his armor somewhere and using a couple of Gil to stay at a nearby inn.
Though as he was close to making a decision, he heard a voice call out from behind him.
"As admirable as it is to try and get information in a place such as this, you won't get much luck while wearing that."
Naruto raised a brow as he turned around, and let his eyes land on a middle-aged woman with dark hair that she kept in a bun, brown eyes, and light skin. She was wearing a black kimono with a golden flower pattern secured by a patterned orange obi tied in the front, rather than the traditional way.
He let out a quick chuckle, "I don't suppose that means you'll talk to me then?"
The woman gave him an amused stare, "Nothing in Wall Market comes free of charge, but I'm inclined to help a customer in need. Question is, do I have a customer?" She asked with an interested look.
He gave a curious gaze in her direction before shrugging, "What do you sell?"
"Well, it's not as much about what I sell, but more about what service I provide." She started and held a fan up to her face, "I just so happen to run the most distinguished establishment within Wall Market."
The blond man fought the urge to sigh, "Fine, I'll bite. What service do you provide within this so-called establishment?"
She gave him a slight grin, "I run the massage parlor within the building behind me and for the big package… Let's just say, you won't be disappointed. Though of course, should you decide to be cheap, it'd be a rather painful procedure. I'm very proud of the quality of service, that we provide."
'I really don't have time for this… But if that's what it takes,' He internally grunted, as he started to feel the impatience rise up within him. Though, that was when a thought struck him, 'Massage parlor… Is this the place Reno was talking about?'
He cupped his chin in thought, before nodding his head, "Very well then, I'll partake."
"Wonderful, I'm Madam M by the way. Please step inside," She grinned and beckoned for him to follow with her fan, opening the door into the establishment as a small bell rang.
Immediately, a small flock of women clad in similar kimonos gathered around them until Madam M raised her hand, "Don't worry girls, I got this one. Just go and attend the desk and await further customers." She spoke calmly, as she led the way toward the back rooms.
Naruto eyed them curiously as he followed the woman and entered a room, and took a look around the place as she closed the sliding door behind her, "Fine place. Not what I expected."
"I guess a lot of things down here would be surprising to the average man from the plate, though I guess you're anything but average." She chuckled and eyed him up and down.
He blinked at her and crossed his arms, "Meaning?"
Madam M remained quiet for a second before she answered him, "I could come up with a quirky answer, but it's because of your armor. And those eyes, you're a SOLDIER, aren't you?"
Naruto's eyes widened briefly in surprise, "I was, not anymore."
"With the state of your armor, I'd say it's either a recent change or you're just proficient in taking care of your gear," She mused out loud as she beckoned for him to lay down on the table in the middle.
He walked over, and eyed it skeptically for a second, "It was recent, yes. Though I'm also good at taking care of my stuff, it's no good broken."
"You got an eye for quality, I can respect that. Now, lay down, you can keep your armor on. What I offer specifically, is a hand massage. Don't worry though, you'll find it just as pleasant as any other type of massage out there."
Naruto shrugged and climbed onto the table and laid down on his back, but not before putting his scythe up against the wall where he could keep a constant eye on it, "So, about that information I need."
She nodded her head as she warmed up her hands, "Yes?"
"I need to figure out how to get to Sector 7," He answered truthfully.
The woman hummed as she began her massage procedure, rubbing and pushing her slender fingers against the palm of his hand, "Well, you'd have to take the opposite gate than the one you entered through, you'll know you're in the right place if you see some Chocobos and a man wearing a cowboy hat on the other side."
The mako-enhanced blond raised a brow at that, "That's oddly specific."
Madam M rolled her eyes as she began working her magic, "His name is Sam, let's just say he's a big name here in Wall Market. And if you see him, you just follow the road, and you'll see the gate that leads to Sector 7."
"I see, thanks for the information." Naruto hummed, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier due to both relaxation and fatigue. With only sheer willpower allowing him to stay awake.
The dark-haired chuckled out of amusement as she traced her fingers tips up and down his palm sensually, "Don't thank me, you paid for it after all."
Naruto opened his eyes at that, "I see, well, thanks regardless."
"You're a piece of work." She chuckled as she removed her fingers from his hand. Surprised by the lack of reaction that she'd usually get from customers, but then again, the young man's mind seemed anywhere but here.
Oh well, at least she made sure she got paid upfront.
With a grunt, the blond sat up and continued to stand on his feet. His body felt surprisingly light as he clenched and opened his hands a few times, "That's surprising."
"Feeling refreshed?" Madam M cooed as she placed her hands along his arm.
He raised a brow, "I guess you can say that."
"Enough to come back?" She questioned as she stepped toward the sliding door and slowly slid it open, gesturing for him to follow along.
Without questioning it, the blond walked toward her and picked his scythe up on the way. Putting it back on its secure spot on his back as he walked past her and into the hallway, the girls he'd seen earlier eyeing him curiously, "I suppose so. I'll give it a shot if I'm coming around to these parts again."
Madam M let out a soft laugh as she held the front door open, "I'll hold you to that. Thank you for your business, stranger."
The blond just kept walking away from the establishment and into the busy streets of Wall Market, crossing his arms over his chest as he eyed the place. It was like a mace, with no system to anything as if you could get lost just looking for a place to take a piss inside this place.
He let out a sigh as he turned one hundred and eighty degrees and began making his way in the direction that the woman had told him, pushing past a few drunk people busy throwing up on the side of the road.
His eyes fixated on the large gate and the increasingly strong smell of birds… Which oddly enough reminded him of Nibelheim, or just the countryside in general.
As the crowd of people got smaller and smaller, he grunted in relief as he got out to what was probably supposed to be the main road once upon a time. And sure enough, as he turned the corner, his eyes landed upon a carriage and several stables filled with chocobos.
"I'll be damned," The blond chuckled mostly to himself as he looked around.
While he walked around inspecting the area, he blinked at the sound of someone walking up to him from behind. Turning his head over his shoulder, he was met by the sight of a man that matched the description Madam M had given him.
It was a middle-aged man with an average build. Short dark brown hair, a beard, and blue eyes. His attire reminded him of a stereotypical cowboy, wearing a cowboy hat, a white button shirt, a reddish brown leather vest, a large brown belt with a golden chocobo buckle, frayed light blue jeans, and brown patterned cowboy boots with buckles.
The man tilted his head down in a greeting as he lifted his hat slightly, "Can I help you?" The man asked, clear skepticism in his voice as he eyed him.
Naruto turned around and crossed his arms over his chest, "You're Sam, right? Chocobo Sam, I mean."
With a slight nod of his head, the man mirrored his pose and crossed his arms, "That'd be correct. And who am I speaking to?"
The blond shrugged, "Not important. I was told to go here by Madam M, who said you'd be on the way to Sector 7. Figured I'd confirm this was the right way before going any further."
Sam seemed to relax slightly at the mention of the woman, but remained a safe distance away, "That is also correct. Continue down the road and don't stray away from the path and you'll end up at the front."
"I see, thanks for your help." Naruto responded with a simple nod of his head.
Scratching his beard, Sam looked at him, "I'd tell you to be careful, but you seem like the type of guy that knows how to take care of himself."
Raising a curious brow, Naruto turned to look at him again, "Be careful with what?"
"You're not from these parts, are you?" Sam asked.
Naruto shook his head, "I'd lie if I said I were. I'm… From up top, I suppose."
The man just nodded his head slowly, "That makes sense." He groaned as he walked over to the back of the carriage, "There are a lot of monsters around these parts, usually gets more active at night. Usually, it'd be safer to travel with a carriage to move quickly past them, but you don't seem like you'd need it."
Shrugging, Naruto walked over to the man, "I wouldn't mind paying for a ride to Sector 7. You know the road better, I'll pay and offer protection." Naruto suggested.
Sam laughed roughly at that, "Thank you kindly, but I doubt the protection will be needed. I've taken this road many times, also at night, as long as we keep a steady pace we shouldn't be bothered. You got the Gil?"
Reaching into the pocket of his uniform, Naruto moved the portable drive out of the way, took out some Gil, and lay into the man's open hand, "Is that enough?"
"Plenty." Sam nodded and motioned his hand toward one of the sheds, "Go fetch yourself a cloak over there. I'm not one to judge, but being a stranger around these parts while carrying such a large weapon might startle the folk over there. Best to keep that hidden, don't worry, the Gil you paid got it covered."
Raising a brow, Naruto shrugged and walked over to the shed. Opening the wooden door as the hinges whined, before looking around. Grasping onto a worn-out brown cloak, Naruto swung it over his body and pulled the hood up over his head, and turned back to Sam, "This what you mean?"
Sam turned his head and scratched his beard, "The scythe is still quite visible, but it should be better than putting it on display like before. Oh well, hop onboard, and we'll get you to your destination."
Without questioning him, Naruto climbed into the back of the carriage and sat down against the wall.
As the carriage got into motion, the blond closed his eyes. His features were shadowed by the hood of the cloak as he started to relax again. The slight swaying of the wagon and the chill night air calmed him down as he began to feel his consciousness slip again.
From one moment to another, everything went dark.
It was as if he'd been tossed into the lifestream, or the void, either seemed to fit this situation. There was nothing, until suddenly, it was replaced by the setting of a large river with a waterfall.
The blond rubbed his eyes as he looked around, seemingly standing on top of the river, with two giant stone statues in front of him, each forming a sign with their hands.
Suddenly, his attention was brought to two blurs that flew from the feet of each statue respectively.
One blur sounded like a thousand birds chirping away, and the other, well… It was red, and the aura in the air felt venomous. As if the mere presence were enough to make a normal person fall to their knees under its pressure.
Naruto narrowed his eyes as the blurs collided when suddenly, the weirdest phenomenon appeared before him.
The two powers were seemingly canceling each other out, or rather, they were fusing to form a black sphere that continued to grow.
'What is that thing?' Naruto questioned before the sphere began to crack. White light seeped through moments before it exploded.
The shockwave sent the river into a frenzy, and just as it hit him, his eyes snapped open again.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips as he lifted his head and looked around. Clutching his head as that ringing sound returned, causing him a major headache, 'I need to get some rest, and soon at that…' He grumbled to himself.
When his surroundings became clear again, he noticed he was back in the carriage. The sight and noise of the Wall Market were nowhere to be seen.
"You awake back there?" He heard Sam call out.
Groaning as he rubbed his eyes, Naruto lifted his head with a slow nod, "Yeah, I'm awake. How long was I out?"
The man whistled a bit, "Ten or fifteen minutes? Seemed a bit restless, but I didn't want to disturb you. Though I have to ask, customer service and all, you good?"
Chuckling at the supposed 'worry' of the man, Naruto waved his hand dismissively, "I'm alright, just need to catch some shut eye soon. Been awake for too long." He responded.
Sam just nodded slowly, "I get that. Long day at work often leaves you scatter-brained."
Resting his arm on top of his knee, Naruto smirked a bit, "You don't say."
A laugh escaped Sam's lip at that, "We're pulling up to Sector 7 now, gate is open, so you should be able to walk right through. Though they might close soon, so we got to hurry."
"How come?" Naruto called out.
Sam shrugged, "I don't know, probably to keep monsters out. They gave up on Wall Market long ago, so we don't have the same type of luxury, but we make it work on our own."
Settling on nodding his head slowly in acceptance of the man's answer, Naruto remained quiet. He was more than aware of what had happened down here.
"We're here."
Blinking slowly, the blond noticed the carriage was coming to a stop. Groaning, he stood up from his seated position and climbed out of the carriage and landed on the ground with a soft thud.
Looking around the area for a bit, noticing what appeared to be an old playground on the outside of the wall, "Odd place."
"That's the slums for ya." Sam chuckled as he petted the Chocobo, "I'll head back for now, though take some advice, get some rest. You look worse for wear kid."
Naruto raised a brow, "So my scythe and I aren't that dangerous anymore?"
The middle-aged man grunted as he retook his seat at the front of the carriage, "You seem alright. Wouldn't have paid handsomely if you weren't, or did I misjudge you?"
"Let's just leave it at that." Naruto chuckled as he did a small wave and began making his way toward the gate. Staring at the large concrete walls that were separating the sectors with a look of disgust.
Clenching his fist tightly, knowing he'd been just as bad as Shinra at keeping these people living in this poverty.
Not that he could do much, to Shinra, he was just muscle and manpower. Not like he had an actual voice to be heard outside mission briefings or when he was commanding squadrons.
Sighing, he rubbed his forehead, making a mental note to try and make up for some of all the stuff he'd turn his back to in the past.
"Well, let's see what we got here." Naruto commented to himself as he walked through the large concrete walls and into Sector 7. It was like he had expected, looking much like the other slums.
Poor facility houses, bad roads, and not that many out at night. Though the few people that were, seemed to make the best of it.
However, one place seemed to be busy. At least if he were to judge by the noise.
People were beginning to watch him as he walked through the area, using the cover of the cloak to try and hide himself as much as possible. Taking Sam's advice into consideration.
As he got the source of all the noise, he looked up at the sign on the building and chuckled a bit in disbelief.
'Seventh Heaven'
"Well that was easy." He muttered to himself.
Looking around for a second, he started heading toward the entrance to the establishment, noticing how there wasn't much in the way of security. And the fact that the door was wide open, he figured he'd just go and head inside.
Though the moment he stepped inside, he stopped in his tracks as he took in all the sights.
Flicking his gaze around, he watched the place with a slightly amused look from beneath the hood of the cloak. Compared to the rest of the slums, this actually seemed... Presentable, and nice. It definitely looked old, and the floorboards lightly creaked beneath his feet, but the overall condition and atmosphere seemed genuinely enjoyable.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he walked over to one of the wooden tables and sat down, angling the scythe on his back so it wouldn't get in the way, as he looked around the place.
People were eyeing him as he did. His weapon likely drew a lot of attention, since the cloak didn't cover much aside from the general look of the weapon. The outline was still very much visible.
Trying to spot a familiar red-eyed girl from his childhood, but so far, he couldn't see her anywhere.
Momentarily he wondered if he'd actually gotten the right place from Cloud, or if this somehow were a trap to lure him in, but the idea was quickly washed away the moment his train of thought was interrupted by a little girl.
"Are you cold?"
Naruto raised a brow and turned his head, slightly tilting it. It was a young girl, no older than four or five years old with shoulder-length brown hair, dark eyes, and wearing a pink dress.
He blinked, "No, I'm quite alright. Why do you ask?"
She looked at him suspiciously, "You're wearing a cloak inside, that's odd. Most people hang it by the door."
Fighting the urge to laugh at the hilarious expression on the child's face, Naruto tilted his hood back a bit so his face would be more visible, and hopefully look less suspicious, "I suppose so. Though I got the cloak from a friend, and I want to make sure it won't get stolen." He whispered.
It seemed to amuse the girl as much as intended, "Don't worry, if anyone is trying to steal anything in here my dad would kick their butt."
"That so?" Naruto asked, his amusement once again showing.
She nodded quickly, "Him or Tifa, I promise!"
Naruto rubbed his chin at that, "What's your name kid?"
"Marlene," She answered honestly.
With a quick nod of his head, Naruto stood up and crouched down, "Say, Marlene, do you happen to know where Tifa is right now?"
She tilted her head, "Why?"
He chuckled a bit, "We're old friends, we're from the same village. Far away from here in fact, could you maybe let her know I'd like a word with her? I've searched for a while, but I'm not very familiar with this place."
Marlene looked a bit uncertain, "Hmm... Fine, but I'm keeping my eye on you."
Naruto raised his hands defensively, "Don't worry, I'll behave." He chuckled and retook his seat, watching the girl skip away to a backroom as he readjusted the hood of his cloak.
'Alright, so Tifa is here.' He thought to himself and tapped his fingertips against the table.
Sliding back into his seat, he began to think about how he might approach Tifa, considering he hadn't seen her since they were young. The memories made him smile, though he wondered what she was like now.
It was then he heard a soft cough next to him.
Blinking, he looked over to see the kid from earlier, eyeing him with curiosity.
"She is gonna meet you outside." She said simply before running off again.
Raising his hand, having meant to ask her a question, he lowered it again with a laugh escaping him. Kids were amusing, so unpredictable and scatter-brained so they didn't stay focused for very long.
Next, he stood up from his seat, grabbed his scythe, and exited the building, deciding to walk around and take in the scenery while he waited for his 'friend'.
Looking up, he frowned at the sight of the plate above. It couldn't be nice living down here, the air polluted with no actual sunlight aside from some lamps at the bottom of the plate.
Still, it wasn't too bad, he supposed. If you had money perhaps.
Hearing some footsteps approach him from behind, he blinked and turned his head. His eyes practically widened to the point of bulging out of his skull at the sight of her.
To say she had grown into a beautiful woman would be the understatement of the century. And even in the middle of the night and lack of light from the scattered lampposts, her red eyes seemed to be glowing in the dark.
"I heard someone wanted a word with me, I'm sorry for asking you to come out here like this. Figured it'd be easier since it's not as noisy." She called out.
Though even as she said that, it was clear she was on guard.
He couldn't blame her, approaching an individual wearing a cloak and carrying a not so concealed weapon would probably be more than suspicious.
Smirking a bit, he turned around, "You sure it isn't because Marlene said a strange fellow with a weapon was looking for you?"
"And if it was?" She questioned with a small smirk, slightly raising her hands just to be on the safe side just in case.
Waving his hands, Naruto chuckled again, "No need for that. I'm just here to talk, that's all."
Tifa's eyebrows rose, "Really?"
Naruto shrugged, "Well yes, but I figured we could go somewhere more private to discuss things. I don't think the city streets are exactly suited for such a thing."
Her lips parted, "You've yet to introduce yourself, yet you wanna talk privately? Sorry, but you'll have to at least buy me dinner before we get all close up and personal. "
Raising a brow, Naruto burst out with laughter, "Oh right, I almost forgot."
She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as she finally reached the crux of the matter, "Forgot about what?"
Slowly he'd reach up, not making any sudden moves, as he pulled the hood down from his head. His face and unruly blond locks revealed, as her hands lowered down to her sides and she practically just stood there and stared at him.
Naruto gave her a slight smile and waved his hand.
"Hey there Tifa, it's been a minute."
She'd never forget that moment.
It was the first time she saw his face after ages and boy did he look good. A lot better than she remembered.
It was hard to believe that he was the one she used to see as a little kid, or whatever age he was when he left.
He looked so much older, his hair in particular. It was longer than she ever remembered, and it was still the same color, but his locks were more disheveled and messy. His face was no longer innocent either, it had matured quite a bit, which only served to make him appear more intimidating.
His eyes were sharp and piercing, and when he smiled it lit up his entire face.
The man standing before her was now a young man who should be a complete stranger to her, and yet she felt something shift inside her. As if something had awakened within her, bringing back a sense of familiarity.
A sensation she'd forgotten she even possessed until now. The way he spoke and acted looked nothing like the pictures had shown them. Which immediately put her heart at ease.
As she looked at him, she realized he was staring down at her as well. It was only after a few moments that she spoke, "You look nothing like I remember." She chuckled with embarrassment.
Naruto chuckled at that, "I suppose that's what happens after so many years."
She grinned up at him, "It's really good to see you, it's been so long that I don't even know where to start."
Another laugh escaped his lips at that, "Seems pretty normal. How have you been?" He asked, leaning forward.
Taking the cue, she stepped forwards as well, "Me? Well, I've been fine. Just working and making a living."
Naruto raised a brow, "That's it?"
She laughed again, "It is what it is, no drama."
He shrugged a bit with a mild smirk, "I somewhat doubt that, knowing you're involved with Avalanche."
Tifa frowned at that, "What do you mean by that?"
Naruto sighed, "Long story short, I ran into a friend of yours. Well, a couple of them actually."
She remained silent at that, "But Avalanche? That's a terrorist group..."
The blond scratched the back of his head, "Look, I know your group sees me as a big bad evil. I worked for Shinra, so I understand where you're coming from. On the plate, I ran into this girl, Jessie. Along with my brother, and two others."
"Wedge and Biggs..." Tifa sighed softly, "I hate to be rude, but why are you here?"
Naruto fidgeted a bit in place, "I don't want to repeat myself too many times, but since we're old friends, I don't mind telling you before others. I was lied to. For most of my career, I was told my brother died on a mission to Nibelheim along with the rest of his group. And... I'm sorry about your dad, and all the others."
Tifa frowned softly as she rubbed her arm, "It was tragic..."
"I don't know what happened, or why, just that... I was told everybody died. I lived from that point on, striving to become the very best of the best, just so something like that wouldn't happen again. Then I met Cloud, on that train after the reactor exploded. Ever since then, I've uncovered more truths than I'd like to. I couldn't stay." He mumbled, clenching his fist tightly.
Tifa's eyes widened at that, "You've left Shinra?"
With a slow nod of his head, Naruto replied, "This night." He sighed softly, "I get that you all are going to have a difficult time trusting my word. I was Shinra after all."
She shook her head, "No, it's okay. After everything Cloud's done... I'm willing to give you a chance."
"Thank you, Tifa."
She smiled softly at him, "Plus, we're friends. Aren't we? We go way back, I owe you the benefit of the doubt."
He nodded slowly, "And I'd like to think we're still that way."
She couldn't help but grin at that, "Yeah, I guess so."
Naruto glanced over at her, "Cloud told me to seek you out here. Do you have any idea where he stays? We got uh, a lot of catching up to do." He replied sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.
Tifa started walking off with a quick nod of her head, "I'll show you the way. Come on."
Wasting no time, the blond followed her. The residents of Sector 7 eyed them curiously as they passed by.
"He is staying at Stargazer Heights, the landlady is a friend that supports our cause. If you're friendly, I'm sure she can hook you up with a place to sleep too. If you're looking to stay that is?" She asked, a slightly hopeful look on her features.
Naruto nodded slowly, "Yeah, I just found out my brother is very much alive. I'm not going anywhere."
Her face lit up at that, "That's nice to hear. I want to ask you more about what you found at Shinra, but I suppose that can wait until tomorrow. You look tired."
Scratching his neck, he just nodded again, "Haven't slept properly in a while. I could use the rest."
"Marle is probably asleep right now, so you'll have to bunk with Cloud. Either way, I doubt any of you would mind that. Might be a bit awkward at first." She commented.
Naruto shrugged, "It is what it is." He chuckled, "I'm just happy to hear he isn't dead, so a little awkwardness is more than tolerable."
Tifa smiled at that, "Well, here we are." She called out and gave a few quick knocks on the door.
Footsteps could be heard from the other side of the door before the doorknob turned. The metal let out a soft whine as the door creaked open, and the younger blond man came into view.
The look of shock and surprise on his face the moment he spotted the one accompanying Tifa, would probably make other members of Avalanche laugh themselves tearful.
Seeing him, Naruto just chuckled and raised his hand.
"Told you I'd be here."
改行
So that's another wrap, hope you guys enjoyed it. Next chapter is probably gonna mostly involve Naruto's formal meeting with the rest of Avalanche, and proving his worth.
Some of them are likely still not ready to trust him completely, but since it was the same with Cloud, it just needs a little time.
Anyhow, until next time!