Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 29: Hidden Sand Convergence III

HIDDEN SAND CONVERGENCE III

Guren very carefully and diligently checks out her windows that nobody followed them or saw them enter her house and closes every single window there is, in a hurry. She then turns her attention to her unexpected guest- a person she hadn't seen in maybe 2 years and thought she'd never see again. Naruto looks just as confused as she is, while Yukimaru is ecstatic that they all found each other again.

"Alright, what're you doing here?" She gets straight to the point.

"Me? I'm on a mission, what're YOU doing here?" Naruto points to her and Gozu.

The man's unique control of Earth Style allowed him to shift his body's density at will. When they saw each other in the forest, he was lean and slim but now in the safe confines of their home, she changed to his more neutral bulky form.

"Hiding." Gozu's low voice resonates through the room. "We have no other choice, do we?"

"Well, I mean, I guess."

Gure takes a seat besides Gozu. "We moved a lot to escape your ANBU before they seemed to give up the chase. We found this place a few months ago and stuck around." She gives Naruto a very pointed look.

Yukimaru smiles widely. "The people here and very nice and friendly. They've really given us a home here."

"I'm glad you're safe here. But how are you hiding from the shinobi? If I could sense your chakra, any sensor might figure out who you are."

Guren and Gozu both get a look of confusion. "What do you mean you could sense us?"

Guren lifts up her sleeve to reveal a sealing formula high on her arm, taking up her entire biceps. "We have this seal on us that hides our chakra signatures. It's how we finally got rid of ANBU and got into hiding. No one should be able to sense us, so how did you?"

"I... don't know? Maybe 'cause I used Sage Mode?" Naruto guesses.

"Sage Mode? What's that?"

"It's kinda like... drawing a different kind of chakra from your environment. Helps me sense people's chakra and whole lotta other cool stuff."

Guren's beginning to look nervous. "I went through Orochimaru's notes. This was supposed to be a super powerful seal that won't be sensed, but if there's something that can, we're not as safe as we thought."

Naruto waves his hand dismissively. "I wouldn't worry about that. Far as I know, sage chakra isn't something that just anyone can get, ya know. It's a real difficult skill that takes a difficult kind of practice, so you probably won't run into anyone else who can use it."

"Huh. Well, aren't you special. You're definitely not the brat we fought all that time ago."

He smirks. "Yeah, you'd be in for a lot of trouble if we fought now."

Gozu's stoic face doesn't show much emotion as he speaks. "Word has reached even here. The Nine Tails' jinchuriki. The hero of the war."

"You've really become someone great." Yukimaru smiles. "So many people talking about you and keeping you in their thoughts."

"Yeah, it almost feels like any place I go to is home, huh?"

The boy tugs on Naruto's sleeve, excitedly. "Hey, hey, so what happened after we split up? What've you been up to?"

"Uh, that's a kinda long story to share, but the gist is this..."

Naruto goes on to explain what he went through after their meeting. He tells them of his training with the toads, the Akatsuki's attack on the Hidden Leaf, his training to master the Nine Tails' chakra, the Fourth War and the absolute rollercoaster that was, about his current mission and all the things he's done so far. In return, Guren and Gozu share their own experiences and where they've been until settling here. Naruto also tells her about Sasuke and the way he changed over time.