Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access up to Chapter 129 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.
Up to Chapter 45 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse is also available.
Lastly, I've launched a new story titled Marvel: Star Wars System, which already has 6 chapters published. Each chapter averages around 5,000 words.
patreon.com/riojiyo131
I won't bother you any further—hope you enjoy the chapter…
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The first 5 chapters of Marvel: Star Wars System are now available, completely free on my Patreon!
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"I still don't understand why I agreed to go out with you..." murmured Gaara, walking beside Naruto through the streets of Sunagakure.
Naruto placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt by his words.
"Oh, you didn't mean that. I'm your only friend, you know that, right?" he reminded him cheekily, giving him a light elbow.
Gaara glanced at him, raising an eyebrow for a second, before returning to his usual serious and unchanging expression.
"I won't admit that's true," he finally said, with the same emotionless calm as always.
Naruto smirked and, without asking permission, threw an arm over his shoulders, wrapping it around his neck.
"Then, as your unofficial-best-friend, I demand you take me somewhere we can have fun! Where do you usually spend your free time?"
"That..."
...
Naruto looked around with a frown, kicking the sand in annoyance.
Gaara had taken him outside the village, into the desert.
There was only sand. Sand, more sand... and a half-buried rock.
"This isn't fun..." he grumbled, crossing his arms.
Gaara looked at him, tilting his head, confused, as if he didn't understand the problem.
The wind stirred up some sand around them.
"We're in the desert. This is where I spend my free time."
Naruto let his arms fall in resignation. "I don't know what I expected, but... it definitely wasn't this."
Naruto picked up a handful of sand and let it fall through his fingers, watching it trickle back to the ground.
Gaara slightly shrugged.
"There aren't many places to have fun in Sunagakure. If you want to have fun, you can dig a hole. Or yell at the wind. Some people find that relaxing."
Gaara sat on top of a dune, crossing his legs calmly.
Naruto plopped down next to him and huffed with amusement, grabbing a handful of sand and tossing it into the air. The wind blew it right back into his face.
"Great. Sunagakure is so much fun. I'm definitely coming back soon..." Naruto said sarcastically.
Gaara remained silent for a few seconds.
"Want to fight?" he offered.
"That's your idea of fun?"
"Yes."
Naruto sighed. "No. Lately, all I've done is fight..."
Naruto leaned back, resting his hands in the sand.
"Aren't there any shops around here? Food? A place that sells rice balls, at least? Maybe ramen?"
"We're in the desert," Gaara said, as if it weren't obvious.
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"I mean in the village, idiot."
"Oh." Gaara realized and thought about it. "There aren't any," was his answer.
Naruto groaned. "How do you survive here?"
Gaara shrugged.
Naruto looked at him in frustration. He was starting to think this conversation only flowed one way.
Naruto looked up at the clear sky and closed his eyes.
"Alright, this might not be fun, but at least it's peaceful. The good thing is that there's no one around."
Gaara nodded slightly.
"And if someone gets lost here, no one ever finds them. It's the best place to hide a body."
Naruto glanced sideways at him.
"That was creepy. You need to work on your social skills, you know?"
"It was just an observation."
They both fell silent for a few seconds.
"...."
"So, now what?" Naruto asked, getting up from the ground.
"We can count how many grains of sand are in this dune," Gaara proposed, expressionless.
"Gaara..." Naruto rolled his eyes.
"That was a joke."
Naruto shook his head, amused. He didn't know Gaara could joke. It had caught him by surprise.
...
[Mito Uzumaki: NARUTO, STOP FOR A MOMENT!!]
Naruto, who had just returned from the desert and was walking with Gaara through the streets of Sunagakure, looked at the group chat, confused.
"What's up with Mito now...?" he murmured, squinting at the screen.
[Mito Uzumaki: Turn around for a second. I think I saw something.]
Naruto obeyed, spinning on his heels under Gaara's curious gaze.
[Mito Uzumaki: Right there! Do you see that kid? His hair is unmistakable, he's an Uzumaki.]
Naruto saw, among the crowd, a barefoot boy with intense red hair, covered in dust and sand, making his way through the people.
Without thinking twice, Naruto began to walk toward him.
"What are you doing?" Gaara asked, following him.
"Give me a second, I need to confirm something."
[Mito Uzumaki: You once said you wanted to gather all the Uzumaki scattered around the world. That boy could be the first.]
The boy, around 10 years old, had dirty clothes and a bandage on his cheek. Despite his state, he stood firm with a lively gaze.
"What's your name, kid?" Naruto asked as he stopped in front of him.
"Reiji. Reiji Uzumaki."
Gaara raised an eyebrow and looked at Naruto.
"Where are your parents?" Naruto asked, frowning at his condition.
Reiji shrugged, not knowing.
Naruto sighed. He didn't need an answer to know they were probably dead.
"It's your lucky day, Reiji. I'm taking you home."
"Home? I already have a home. I'm not going anywhere with you."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"I phrased that wrong, brat. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. We're from the same clan."
Reiji's eyes widened.
"My father said that one day the Uzumaki Clan would be united again! Are you really one of us?!"
Naruto nodded, but then the boy squinted at him, skeptical.
"Dad also said all Uzumaki have red hair... You don't look like one. The guy with the mean face next to you looks more like one."
Gaara frowned, visibly annoyed.
"Mean face?" he grumbled under his breath.
Naruto burst out laughing, ignoring Gaara.
"My mom was an Uzumaki, but my dad wasn't. I look more like him," he explained, ruffling the boy's hair, brushing out some of the sand tangled in it.
Reiji still looked at him doubtfully, until a new voice caught everyone's attention.
"Naruto, I finally found you!"
Karin appeared, walking toward them. Her bright red hair blew in the desert wind, and she held a bottle of water in her hand.
Reiji saw her, and his eyes lit up.
"Then it's true! The Uzumaki Clan is coming back! Just like my dad said! I have to tell the others!"
And without another word, the boy took off running at full speed.
Despite his ragged clothes and lack of shoes, he ran as if nothing hurt.
Naruto looked at Karin with an apologetic smile before taking off after him.
"Hey, brat! Don't run so fast!"
While running, Naruto couldn't help but wonder what he meant by needing to tell the others.
Karin, confused, arrived where Gaara was.
"What's going on...?"
Gaara simply shrugged.
"I didn't understand much. You should follow them."
Karin nodded gratefully and ran off after Naruto.
Gaara stood still for a few seconds before turning around and walking away.